TURKEYEN, GREATER GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CARICOM) — The CARICOM Elections Observation Mission to Trinidad and Tobago’s general elections on Monday say voters were able to cast their ballots without intimidation or harassment and the results reflect the will of the people.
The Mission, in its Preliminary Statement issued Tuesday, however called for guidelines and regulations on the use of social media in election campaigns, saying it notes that one of the major concerns on Election Day was the alleged sending out of text messages advising electors how to vote.
“The view of the Mission is that this is an issue which needs to be reviewed and addressed not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but the Region in general. The advent and increasing use of social media, tweets, text messaging and face book posts etc. in politics, strictly speaking, does not fit into the traditional definition of campaigning. Hence it is felt that each territory must seek to develop guidelines and regulations in relation to election campaigning, and the use of social media.
Download the document below to read the full ‘Preliminary Statement’.