The Congress of the People has congratulated the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) for setting the record straight regarding Caricom observers, following remarks by PNM leader Keith Rowley last Sunday.
COP leader Prakash Ramadhar said in a statement: “Last Sunday the PNM leader in the PNM’s now usual style of raising speculation without any factual basis, made wild claims about the general election 2015 being manipulated.
“He said he will call for Caricom observers. Pretending he was protecting the EBC, Rowley was really attempting to show doubt about that institution which has conducted every election in our history since Independence without any reason to question that they were free and fair.
“Today, the EBC reminded T&T there have been Caricom and other election observers at general elections between 2000 and 2010.
“We must thank the EBC for reminding us of this simple fact that exposed Rowley’s panic-mongering call for foreign observers. This is part of PNM’s strategy to create an atmosphere of tension and distrust on the basis of lies that they are using.
“It is the same nonsense the PNM claimed when the EBC’s report on polling division adjustments was brought for parliamentary approval recently. After raising false alarms about gerrymandering of boundaries, the PNM joined in approving the report,” Ramadhar said.
The statement said the COP had confidence in the EBC to ensure the conduct of the election would be above question.