PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) —Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Stuart Young on Thursday defended his decision to call an early general election and brushed aside calls by the leader of the main opposition United National Congress (UNC) requesting foreign observers for the April 28 general election.

Young, speaking at the end of the weekly Cabinet meeting, told reporters that Persad Bissessar was aware that arrangements had been put in place for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) observers to monitor the elections, adding that he has also now requested observer teams from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the US-based Carter Center.

The election is being held four months ahead of the fifth anniversary of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) second consecutive victory in August 2020, when it won 22 of the 41 seats in the Parliament with the remainder going to the main opposition United National Congress (UNC).

Young told reporters that towards the end of last year, his predecessor, Keith Rowley had written to the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat requesting an observer team for the elections to be held in 2025.

“There was a positive response to Dr Rowley’s letter from CARICOM. The Secretary-General on the 13th of January, 2025, saying that they are fully preparing to undertake the necessary administrative arrangements for the deployment of a CARICOM Observation team to Trinidad and Tobago whenever they receive further information regarding the holding of elections,” Young said.

“The elections have now been called and I can tell you that a diplomatic note went on 19th March to the CARICOM Secretariat informing officially that elections are due in Trinidad and Tobago on April 28 and saying we would welcome the CARICOM observers to this election”.

On Tuesday, Persad Bissessar sent a letter to Prime Minister Young indicating that she was renewing her call for independent international election observers, following ”Rowley’s dismissive response to the initial request”.

In her letter, she said is concerned “over the erosion of democratic institutions, the transparency of the electoral process, and the impartiality of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC)”

The letter lists a number of issues the UNC said highlight the need for the observers including the Election and Boundaries Commission’s (EBC) re-drawing of boundaries for 2021 Tobago House of Assembly elections, ”and acquiescing to the government’s legislative manipulation to force new elections”.

Persad Bissessar said that despite the government’s invitation to CARICOM observers, the “Opposition strongly believes that independent, non-Caribbean international observers are necessary to ensure a free and fair electoral process”.

Young said that he was disappointed at Persad-Bissessar’s comments regarding the presence of CARICOM observers and that “I have seen the leader of the opposition putting some very spurious challenges to the body that is CARICOM”.

Young defended Trinidad and Tobago’s relationship under the ruling PNM administrations with the 15-member regional integration grouping.

“We are a proud member of CARICOM and will continue to be at the forefront of the defence of CARICOM. CARICOM has a very important role to play…together as a CARICOM region we are much stronger in this global environment, that is a rapidly changing and volatile environment.

“We will not disrespect CARICOM in any manner. The leader of the opposition and all citizens are entitled to their opinion, they are entitled to free speech, but it would do us well to record Trinidad and Tobago, what had happened by 2014-2015 (during the administration of the Persad Bissessar-led People’s Partnership government)with the disrespect from Trinidad and Tobago to our CARICOM brothers and sisters and how Trinidad and Tobago was then perceived”.

Young said he “spent quite a while on the telephone this morning” with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who is also the CARICOM chair “sharing ideas ahead of heads of CARICOM meeting to be convened tomorrow afternoon.

“I gave her the assurance that Trinidad and Tobago will continue to be at the front of the batting lineup, standing firm at the crease with CARICOM”.

Young said he believes that Persad Bissessar’s criticism of CARICOM being unable to carry out its electoral observer mandate is “on the basis of a spurious allegation” that the wife of the former attorney general of Trinidad and Tobago, Reginald Armour, is now a senior official at the CARICOM Secretariat.

He said Elizabeth Solomon, who is the CARICOM Assistant Secretary General, has had “decades of professionalism and experience under her belt…is completely ridiculous, but not surprising”.

Yong defended his decision to announce the date for the general election less than 24 hours after he was sworn into office, telling reporters “it is because I and the government that I lead, as well the party that I am the chairman off, have a lot of things that we want to do as we write the next chapter.

“We have talked about unification, personally for me, to unify the country and bring the country on board to build on what we have.. I took that decision called an election as early as possible, literally the earliest possible date, so the country, the population now have an opportunity in the next few weeks to listen to both sides and others and to make a decision on who is going o take Trinidad and Tobago forward from the 29th of April.

“You will certainly hear from me the things I would like the population to give me the mandate to do and move us in the direction I think we can move to fulfil our potential.”