Political campaigning is well under way for the yet to be announced general elections of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Supervisor of Elections would like to remind Candidates, Political Parties or anyone associated with them of the need to comply with the provisions of the Elections Ordinance and in particular, what is expected by virtue of 'Section 70' of the said Ordinance, which reads:
"Every person who corruptly, by himself or by any other person, either before, during or after an election, directly or indirectly, gives or provides or pays, wholly or in part, the expenses of giving or providing any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person, to vote or to refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election and this behavior is known as 'treating' is illegal.
The Supervisor also explained that 'treating' has been illegal for many years, although in past campaigning leading up to general elections some people have chosen to ignore it, and such behavior he said is no longer being ignored.
The person offering this kind of inducement is committing a serious criminal offence and so is any member of the public who accepts a gift or cash.
The Supervisor has also warned that he will follow up on all reports received and will not hesitate to collaborate with the Police to initiate criminal investigation.
Political Party Leaders and Candidates should make it known throughout their organization or campaign machinery of the need to comply with the law so as to uphold the law and ensure a level playing field between campaigns in the best interest of voters in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Lister Dudley Lewis
Supervisor of Elections