EBC ready for January elections

EBC Office Tobago

The Elections and Boundaries Commission-Tobago arm is ready for the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly Elections. This is according to Registration Officer Pamela Ogiste. Ogiste told Tobago News only the preliminary list is available.

She said persons have been visiting the office to discuss irregularities. "After this, our next list is of course the revised list, which in essence will be the list for the election," Ogiste said.

Ogiste said additional offices have been opened in Tobago East to facilitate persons there. "We've also open our office at Roxborough which operates fulltime, as well we have opened a temporary centre at the Castara Community Centre, and that will be in operation for the full nine days, which started the 20th and goes to the 28th," Ogiste said.

When Tobago News visited the EBC office, several persons were observed verifying that they would be eligible to cast their ballots come January 21. Ogiste confirmed that over 46,000 are presently registered to vote in the THA elections. "The list as at the 20th of November was 46,850 or so which is more than the list for 2009, and as I said the final list revised again, the figure may differ," Ogiste said.

Meanwhile, members of the PNM met with officials of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), at the Scott House Office Trinidad last Tuesday. PNM Tobago Council Education Officer Rennie Dumas when asked to give an update on the meeting told this paper the meeting with the EBC went well.

"Discrepancies with respect to the voters list was brought to the EBC's attention, and it was said the concerns would be looked at and addressed promptly if found wanting. The PNM cannot canvas persons who are not on the electoral list," Dumas said.

Some of the persons present at the meeting included PNM Tobago Council Education Officer Rennie Dumas, PNM's General Secretary Ashton Ford, PNM Tobago Council Secretary Joel Jack and for the EBC Chairman Norbert Masson, and other EBC officials.

Dumas said the PNM will await the revelation of the final electoral revised list in going further on the matter.

The EBC collects data for this population of 1.3 million. There are sixty-seven polling divisions and twelve districts. According to Chairman of the EBC Norbert Masson, no unusual pre- election activity has been observed to date. Masson said all persons should cooperate with the Commission at this time as there is a free flow of persons from one address to another. "Any calls of tampered lists, and missing names is premature and unfounded at this time," Masson said.

reproduced from the Tobagonews