Trinidad and Tobago is back in election mode today as polls for both the Local Government Bye Election and the Tobago House of Assembly open at 6am.
While both elections are of importance, the real battle is on the sister isle of Tobago.
The Elections and Boundaries Commissions (EBC) has stated that a total of 83,413 people are eligible to go to the polls – 51,062 electors in Tobago and in Trinidad a total electorate of 32,351 citizens.
The EBC said they would be operating under the same strict COVID- 19 guidelines as the August 10, 2020 general election.
EBC Communication Manager Bobbie Rogers said “Key for all to remember is that wearing of a mask is mandatory – masks are the law.”
“Just as for the 2020 general elections, if a voter doesn’t have a mask, one will be provided by EBC for them.”
The five bye-elections are being held to fill vacancies after three PNM and two UNC councillors went on to become Members of Parliament following the August 2020 General Election, while Tobago’s election is the 11th THA poll to fill the 12 seats in the assembly.
Tobago’s electorate of 51, 062, is an increase from the 2016 figure of 48,677.
The PNM and PDP fielded candidates in all twelve electoral districts while there are also two Independent candidates- one each in the electoral districts of Black Rock/Whim/Spring Garden and Scarborough/Calder Hall.
Scarborough /Calder Hall is where there will be a three way fight involving former PNM member Denise Tsoiafatt Angus, PNM’s Marcellin Jack, and PDP’s Trevor James.
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