Elections Will Proceed According to Plan

Dean Barrow

General elections are proceeding on Wednesday as scheduled, despite the recent flooding.  Postponing the national vote, according to PM Barrow, would have to be a mutual decision taken by the political leaders of both mass parties.  At this stage, however, it is his opinion that the elections will be carried out on November eleventh since there is nothing in the constitution that speaks to a deferral.  The question of how voters will be mobilized from disaster areas to the polls on Wednesday has also become a serious consideration.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I’m glad that you raised the question of some people having suggested or canvassed the idea of a postponement of the general elections.  There is, I brought my constitution.  There is nothing expressly provided for in the constitution that contemplates any possibility of that happening.  Of course, nothing is beyond doing if circumstances warrant.  In other words, if we had had a category five hurricane and everything had been destroyed then we would not have been able to hold a general election.  And so, if it were to have been the decision that these circumstances are so dire as to necessitate at least the contemplation of some kind of a postponement, presumably a way could have been found.  I don’t see that it really arises, but because there are those who have made the suggestions in a public fashion, let me say that if that discussion is even to be entertained, it is a discussion that would have to take place between the Honorable Patrick Faber, the leader of the United Democratic Party, and the Honorable John Briceño, the leader of the People’s United Party.”