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MEDIA RELEASE - April 25th, 2025

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STATEMENT ON THE COUNCIL'S DELIBERATION AND AN APPEAL TO ABIDE BY THE CODE AND KEEP OUR

ELECTIONS PEACEFUL

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With polling day (April 28, 2025) fast approaching, the Council for Responsible Political Behaviour acknowledges that the campaign thus far has been largely peaceful, with political parties and candidates exercising a sense of responsibility. Several complaints were however received over the last week and were deliberated upon by the Council. To this end, the Council has found that there were breaches to the Code as pertains to the following issues:

  1. Use of language that could be deemed derogatory or fostering hatred and resentment

  2. References of race and racial slurs

  3. The abuse of negative campaigning

  4. The continued removal/destruction and defacement of Campaign materials

 

Complaints were also received as pertains to the improper use of state resources for political campaigns. It may be noted that Clause 13 of the Code speaks specifically to this concern wherein it is affirmed to:

13. Not permit the use and abuse of State resources for political campaigns

 

As the campaign comes to an end, the Council calls on all Parties, and Candidates to:

  • Uphold the Constitution and law.

  • Ensure that their conduct is above reproach

  • Maintain the highest moral principles and ethical standards whilst promoting and enforcing respect, tolerance, harmony, and peace in the remaining hours before the poll, as well as on election day and in the post-election period.

  • Refrain from practices that promote divisiveness in the Society.

 

In this regard various clauses of the Code of Ethical Political Conduct identify certain practices and conduct which must be avoided. Amongst these are:

  • Not offer any inducement or reward, for example money, groceries, or other benefits, to another person to Vote or not to vote, or to vote or not to vote in any particular way

  • Not discriminate on the grounds of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, religion, or belief, or seek to mobilize support by reference to race, sex, gender, religion, or class.

  • Not make false or defamatory allegations in print or speech in connection with an election in respect of a Party, its Candidates, representatives, or members.

  • Not use language or act in a way that may provoke violence; or Intimidate Candidates, members of Parties, representatives or supporters of Parties or Candidates, or voters; or invite, encourage, or foster hatred, resentment, or any form of violence.

  • Not seek to assassinate the character of or make defamatory comments about anyindividual, family, professional group, or section of the community.

  • Not deface, or induce anyone to unlawfully remove or destroy, or deface the  billboards, placards, posters or any other election materials of a Party or Candidate.

  • Not engage, recruit, or deploy any individual(s) for the purpose of violence, intimidation or harassment, including intimidation by congregating in groups wearing similar identifiable colours at or near to election stations on election day.

 

The Council would also like to stress that there should be no harassment or intimidation and public and private property must be respected. Once such conduct remains prohibited, the election will be conducted in a manner of which we will all be proud.

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Like in every contest, there will emerge winners and while the winners will celebrate, they should ensure that their victory celebrations are tempered so as to ensure that on the morning of April 29, 2025, all citizens, winners, as well as losers, will hold their heads high in consideration of a well fought election. Acknowledging that we will all continue to live in our common space of Trinidad and Tobago, let us remember and live by the words of our National Anthem: “Here every creed and race find an equal place, and may God bless our

Nation.”

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Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Council,

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Leela Ramdeen,

Secretary

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