UNC officials say elections could be next as EBC report goes to House
Akash Samaroo
Senior Reporter/Producer
akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt
A critical report that UNC officials say could clear the way for the Government to call an early general election is coming before the Lower House next Monday. The Leader of Government Business confirmed yesterday that the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) report on the Review of Constituency Boundaries 2024 will be debated when the House sits on December 9.
The report, which was laid in the Parliament in April 2024, proposes not only boundary alterations for 16 constituencies but name changes for 5 of them.
The report initially stated that the electorate in any constituency shall not be more than 110 per cent nor be less than 90 per cent of the total electorate of the island divided by the number of constituencies in that island.
This means that in any constituency, the highest limits for electors are 30,887 in Trinidad and 26,082 in Tobago, while the lowest limits are 25,271 in Trinidad and 23,473 in Tobago.
The EBC report said four constituencies (Toco/Sangre Grande, D’Abadie/O’Meara, Caroni Central and Cumuto/Manzanilla) fall above the Permissible Upper Limit. Meanwhile, five constituencies (Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West, Port-of-Spain South, San Fernando East, San Fernando West and Pointe-a-Pierre) fall below the Permissible Lower Limit.
To satisfy the numerical requirement, the EBC said it made changes “with due consideration being given to the maintenance of communities, and the use of natural boundaries wherever possible.”
This means it looked to the neighbouring constituencies to make up the shortfall or to reassign voters.
As such, boundary changes were made to Caroni Central, Tabaquite, Pointe-a-Pierre, Cumuto/Manzanilla, La Horquetta/Talparo, D’Ababdie/O’Meara, Arouca/Maloney, Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West, Port-of-Spain South, Laventille West, Laventille East/Morvant, San Fernando East, Oropouche East, San Fernando West, Toco/Sangre Grande and Arima.
The EBC report said to ensure there is no confusion amongst voters when the boundaries are altered, it proposed name changes for 5 constituencies.
The report proposed that Arouca/Maloney be renamed Trincity/Maloney; D’Abadie/O’Meara to Malabar/Mausica; Lopinot/Bon Air West to Arouca/Lopinot; St Joseph to become Aranguez/St Joseph and Pointe-a-Pierre renamed Claxton Bay.
When the report was released the Opposition Leader challenged the EBC’s rationale behind some of the changes.
The report needs a simple majority to be accepted by the House on Monday.
Yesterday, some UNC officials, who asked not to be named, said they are convinced that once the report is accepted, it will remove the last hurdle between the Prime Minister and an election being called which has been heavily rumoured this year.
If the Prime Minister dissolves the Parliament next Monday, then a general election can be held in mid-January 2025.
Despite only announcing three candidates so far, Kamla Persad-Bissessar told Guardian Media yesterday that her party is prepared for any early election.
Persad-Bissessar said, “The EBC report was laid a while ago. The country is well aware of its contents. Once it’s debated and passed, an election can be called at any time after. We are prepared for the general election. If the PM mistakenly believes that we are not, he will be in for a surprise.”
No debate for SRC Report
Meanwhile, Guardian Media understands that next Monday’s Order Paper left members of the Opposition confused on Wednesday when it was circulated among members of the House.
Under the section for Motions, it stated, “BE IT RESOLVED that the House approve the 120th Report of the Salaries Review Commission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the Review of the 117th Report with respect to the Review of Salaries and other Terms and Conditions of Service of Offices within the purview of the Salaries Review Commission.”
Guardian Media understands that this led some members of the Opposition to question whether the contentious report is to be debated after all. On November 28 at a post-Cabinet press briefing, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said it did not need parliamentary approval.
This was confirmed by the Leader of Government Business in the Lower House, Camille Robinson-Regis.
“Section 141 (2) of the constitution states that the SRC’s report has to be laid in both Houses of Parliament. The Lower House and the Senate. Once there are no amendments or changes to be made to the report, it does not have to be debated. But you can put a motion, and that motion has been on the order paper ever since we laid the report. But the motion does not have to be debated,” she explained.
She added, “Since we laid the report, the motion has been there.
The Prime Minister had previously stated that following the report’s acceptance by Cabinet all that is required is a circular from the Finance Minister.
In addition to the EBC Report Robinson-Regis said the Tobago Self Governance Bills will also be on Monday’s agenda.
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