Tobago elections up next

As he thanked the electorate in Trinidad for participating in Monday’s Local Government Elections and expressing the Government’s satisfaction with the way the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) oversaw that exercise, Rowley said, “The THA (Tobago House of Assembly) has been dissolved on the advice of the Chief Secretary (Orville London) to the President (Anthony Carmona).” Rowley explained,.” That was done in October. That dissolution requires by law that an election be held within 90 days.” The Prime Minister said the 90th day is in the first week in February and London has advised President Carmona as to what date he would like the THA elections to be held. However the Prime Minister said, “It is President who will make that call after the relevant consultations and more importantly the EBC’s report which has been available.” Rowley explained that the EBC’s report on the boundaries for the 12 electoral districts in Tobago (currently all held by the PNM) has been laid in Parliament.

He said Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives Camille Robinson-Regis, has advised that the House will sit next Wednesday to approve the report.

Rowley said once the report is approved, the President will be, “in a position to call the election date for the THA.”