Trinidadian Finance Minister Colm Imbert has seemingly hinted at the possibility of general elections in the twin-island republic being held before the end of September.

Imbert told the Standing Finance Committee on

Wednesday (June 10) that having already held a Local Government election in

2019, he anticipates another election to be just around the corner.

To this end, the parliamentary was made aware of a TT$43 million increase for the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) as part of its preparation for the election.

“In this fiscal year, we already have had

one election, the Local Government election of November 2019 and it is likely,

possible that there may be an election before the end of this fiscal year by

September 30,” Imbert said.

He told the committee in anticipation of

that possibility, “the Ministry of Finance looked at expenditure over the years

with respect to a general election and has come up with this supplementary

appropriation for the EBC in the possibility that there may be a general

election before the end of September 30.”

“It is all in the realm of possibility. We

are taking in front as it were using the local parlance and making the

accommodation for the EBC in the possibility of an election before the 30th of

September,” Imbert, who has served as prime minister on numerous occasion since

the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) won in September 2015, explained

further.

Imbert brushed aside remarks by opposition legislator Dr. Roodal Moonilal that there was more to the provision of the funds.

“Today we are told that we need TT$43

million more for the EBC because the minister got it wrong with his 2020

figures. Is this another case of the level of incompetence or is it that

something is happening at Scott’s House (EBC headquarters) that we are not

aware of that they require additional monies in excess of TT$105 million

budgeted?” Moonilal asked.

Imbert, however, responded that it is

routine when the budget is presented during the fiscal year that there will be

adjustments based on assessments of the situation.

“We are simply making sure that the EBC has

enough money to deal with a possible general election which may occur before

the 30th of September,” he added.

Last weekend, Prime Minister Dr. Keith

Rowley rubbished a threat by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar of legal

action should he name the date for a general election with the country’s

borders still closed as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“All I could say to that is that Trinidad and Tobago has a responsible government, and that government observes the law, and the supreme law in this country is the constitution. The constitution determines how and when an election could be called and it has nothing to do with the fuddles of any opposition leader,” Rowley told a news conference.

General elections are due no later than

November this year, and while Rowley has not given any indication as to when

the PNM would seek a new mandate from the population, he did last week indicate

that the Trinbago Parliament would be dissolved in July.

Under the Trinidadian constitution, an

election must be called within 90 days of the dissolution of the 41-member

Parliament.