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MEDIA RELEASE - December 19th, 2025

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COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL BEHAVIOUR MONITORING OF THE 2026 THA ELECTION CAMPAIGN

 

With today being Nomination Day for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) January 12th, 2026 elections, the Council for Responsible Political Behaviour will continue its monitoring activities to evaluate adherence to the Code of Ethical Political Conduct, by all persons taking part in the campaign.

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The Code of Ethical Political Conduct has been in existence since 2014 and calls upon all persons

participating in the election campaign 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.

 

Moreover, the Code further identifies specific actions which are deemed prohibited. To this end

Parties, Candidates and supporters should:

  • 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 any individual, family, professional group, or section of the community.

  • Not abuse a position of power, privilege or influence, including parental, patriarchal, traditional or employment authority to influence the conduct or outcome of an election.

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

  • Not indulge in negative campaigning or advertising or any action which would bring the political process into disrepute.

  • Not criticize aspects of the private lives of Candidates, their families, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or Candidates of other Parties.

  • 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.

 

Citizens are invited to visit the Council’s website at www.politicalethicstt.org to view the Code

in its entirety.

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The Council’s membership for monitoring this election in Tobago includes the following persons:

  • Dr. Bishnu Ragoonath, Chair

  • Mr. Ralph Peter, Vice-Chair

  • Ms. Leela Ramdeen, Secretary

  • Rev. Joy Abdul-Mohan

  • Mr. Gabriel Faria

  • Dr. Gabrielle Hosein

  • Dr. Rev. Carlisle Pemberton

  • Ms. Pathleen Titus

  • Mr Curtis Williams

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Cognizant of the Council’s human limitations, it is clear that it will not be able to see every aspect of the campaign, and to that extent the Council invites members of the public to submit complaints or concerns they may have about possible breaches of the Code. Such complaints can be submitted to the Council either through a message to WhatsApp 793 4505 or via email to info@politicalethicstt.org.

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At a meeting of the Council on Thursday December 18th, 2025, it was also agreed to invite all Political parties which nominated candidates to contest the election to ratify and sign on to the Code. All parties have thus been invited to send a representative to a signing ceremony which will be broadcast live on the Rise and Shine show on Tuesday December 23rd, 2025, at 7.30am from the Tobago Channel 5 studio in Scarborough.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Council,

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Leela Ramdeen,

Secretary

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