PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — A Commonwealth observer team Tuesday urged political parties and voters in Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that the reputation of the twin island republic for free and fair elections is maintained during the September 7 general election.

“The Commonwealth Observer Group stands in solidarity with the people of Trinidad and Tobago as they exercise their democratic rights to vote for the leaders of their choice,” said Sir Paul Touva, who is leading the six-member team.

“Trinidad and Tobago has a track record of credible elections and the Commonwealth is committed to continuing its support of the country’s democratic processes,” he said, noting that Commonwealth observers were deployed here in 2000 to monitor the general election.

More than 100 candidates will vie for the 41 seats at stake in the general election, but political observers say the fight is a straight one between the ruling United National Congress (UNC) led coalition People’s Partnership Government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the main Opposition People’s National Movement headed by Dr Keith Rowley.

Sir Paul told a news conference that the mission will assess whether the elections have been conducted “according to the standards for democratic elections to which Trinidad and Tobago has committed itself, including constitutional framework and national legislation as well as Commonwealth and other international commitments.

“We will be objective, independent and impartial,” said the former speaker of the Solomon Islands, noting that his team has already met with representatives of the political parties, the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the media as well as non-government organisations.

He said a meeting would also be held with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) observer team and civil society, adding “the aim is to ensure we gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the election process and the electoral environment”.

Sir Paul, who said the Commonwealth observers would issue an interim statement on the key findings shortly after the election, disagreed that their presence here was meaningless given public attitude to observer missions whose reports and recommendations are hardly or if not implemented.

“The Commonwealth observer team has been mandated to observe the elections in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said, acknowledging that while the period here “is very brief…we have a clear mandate…and that is to observe free and fair election in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are not here to criticise, we are not here to make any comments on the rights of people. However, we will take a note of whatever we see during our course of observing before, during and after the election,” he told reporters.