Kejan Haynes
The final report of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) on the 2025 general election has raised concern over allegations of bribery on polling day and the continued lack of legal controls on campaign financing in Trinidad and Tobago.
According to the report, the COG “noted reports of electoral offences, including allegations of bribery on election day.”
It recommended that all such reports be properly investigated and dealt with through the justice system, stating: “It strongly recommends that reported offences be promptly investigated, prosecuted and adjudicated to ensure accountability, deter future violations, and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process in Trinidad and Tobago.”
The report did not identify the individuals or parties involved in the alleged bribery but noted the importance of prompt enforcement to maintain public confidence in elections.
On campaign financing, the COG reiterated concerns raised in previous reports, criticising the absence of legal regulations on political party funding. While the Representation of the People Act caps a candidate’s spending at TT$50,000, there is no corresponding limit or disclosure requirement for political parties.
The COG described this gap as a serious shortcoming and repeated its call for Parliament to enact the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which was originally introduced in 2015 and includes several provisions to improve transparency and accountability.
The bill proposes limits on contributions from individuals and entities mandatory disclosure of donations and campaign expenditure and fair access to state and non-state media during campaigns, among other recommendations.
The report noted that “this has become increasingly urgent” and recommended the creation of a mechanism to monitor campaign spending by both parties and candidates, including declarations of the source of funds.
It also called on Parliament to empower the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to establish and enforce spending limits, stating:
“The EBC should be empowered by Parliament to establish clear and enforceable spending limits to ensure a level playing field and to monitor and enforce campaign finance regulations for both individual candidates and political parties.”
Separately, the report acknowledged that the 2025 campaign period was generally peaceful, but pointed out that voluntary codes of conduct such as those monitored by the Council for Responsible Political Behaviour remained unenforceable under law.
The COG said these codes have helped promote more civil campaigns but insisted that formal regulation is necessary to address financial impropriety and electoral misconduct.
