[UPDATED] PM: No election delay despite covid19

THE PRIME Minister said the Government has no intention yet to delay the General Election over the covid19 pandemic, he told the House of Representatives on Friday.

He was wrapping up debate on a motion he earlier moved to approve an Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) report to alter some constituency boundaries, which the House then approved.

Rowley said Chaguanas West Ganga Singh had earlier asked if TT can hold an election in this covid19 era, but this position sharply contrasted with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s call on Thursday for elections to be held now.

On that note, the PM quipped that Singh must ensure he was on the right end of a proverbial see-saw which otherwise could hit him in "a very tender place."

Rowley said, “I don’t know what the Opposition's position is as to whether we can have elections, but I am saying to this country as of today we have taken no decision, no consideration, as to postponement of any election in TT.

"An election for Christmas is always a good thing in TT. So we have ample time.”

Scoffing that Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial had just made “a great discovery” by suggesting he has the election date, he said he had always had the election date in his back pocket. He said, “The elections will be called when the elections are due.” Rowley told the Opposition to pay the legal costs they had incurred in their failed court challenge to the 2015 general elections.

On the controversial Guyana general elections, Rowley said, “We have no horse in Guyana but want the best for the people of Guyana, and for Guyana to retain its high standing in Caricom.” He said the EBC had not gone back to Guyana where a recount is under way as he wanted TT to preserve its pristine position there.

Rowley referred to the brouhaha over the police’s dismissal of the Cambridge Analytica controversy (along with the E-mailgate affair.)

He scoffed at Chaguanas West MP Ganga Singh earlier telling the House no-one should not question the police, as he challenged Singh to tell that to attorneys who make their daily living from making such challenges.

Rowley said his recent online comments on Cambridge Analytica were not aimed at the police, but the Opposition for trying to say the affair was a hoax. “Go back and read the comment very carefully.”

He then said while he will be careful in his official remarks on the police, as a private citizen he was free to level criticism if warranted. Alluding to past inaction by the police, he said the DPP told police to inquire into whether customs laws were breached in a matter of gifts distributed at a Concacaf meeting. “Have you ever heard anything about that?” Rowley asked.

This story was originally published with the title "PM: No plan to delay general election" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE PRIME Minister said the Government has no intention yet to delay the general election over the covid19 pandemic, he told the House of Representatives on Friday.

He was wrapping up debate on a motion he earlier moved to approve an Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) report to alter some constituency boundaries, which the House then approved.

Rowley said Chaguanas West Ganga Singh had earlier asked if TT can hold an election in this covid19 era, but this position sharply contrasted with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s call on Thursday for elections to be held now.

On that note, the PM quipped that Singh must ensure he was on the right end of a proverbial see-saw which otherwise could hit him in "a very tender place."

Rowley said, “I don’t know what the Opposition's position is as to whether we can have elections, but I am saying to this country as of today we have taken no decision, no consideration, as to postponement of any election in TT.

"An election for Christmas is always a good thing in TT. So we have ample time.”