After a near two-hour emergency meeting of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) on Saturday, no determination has yet been made on whether isolated COVID-19 sufferers will be allowed to vote on January 19.
However, a source close to the deliberations, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Barbados TODAY that head of the COVID Monitoring Unit, Ronald Chapman spoke “out of turn” as he had no authority under the rules of elections to determine who would or would not be allowed to exercise their franchise.
Last evening the EBC, led by chairman Leslie Haynes, Q.C, held an urgent meeting via Zoom with members following public outrage regarding Chapman’s announcement.
Earlier in the day Chapman said that persons who tested positive for COVID should stay at home on election day and that no provisions to vote would be made for those in government controlled-facilities and home isolation. At the time, he argued that those facilities are extensions of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and that at no time in the past were provisions made for persons who are in the hospital to vote.
The source said that under Barbados’ laws, the EBC is the only body vested with the authority to make official recommendations or decisions with respect to the conduct of a General Election. In the case of Chapman’s declaration, the source indicated that this was never recommended by the EBC.
As it relates to yesterday’s meeting, Barbados TODAY understands that it was “inconclusive” as the commission was divided on the issue.
“Whenever the commission met it would send forward a finding to the government, which represented the position taken by the commission. Yesterday there was a deviation from that. During yesterday’s discussions the position of the chairman did not square with the position of other members of the commission … so, it is now down for further discussion with the Attorney General. Although he is not the minister responsible for the election – it’s the Prime Minister. Cabinet is the ultimate policy-making body but they usually take the advice of the commission,” the source added.
During a press conference hosted by the Supervisor of Elections, Angela Taylor, to give an update on its election preparedness, vice chairman of the EBC Hal Gollop, Q.C, warned that because of the Constitutional element of Chapman’s decision, it would be wise to first seek a legal opinion before any definitive decisions are made. (KC)
