The ruling Unity Labour Party has procured 50,000 facemasks for distribution to voters on Thursday — election day.
Health authorities are encouraging persons to wear a mask at polling booths, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
And, speaking at a Unity Labour Party public meeting in Glen Saturday night, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves noted that voting would take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., as usual.
Then, 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. is for those persons who are undergoing the mandatory five-day in-hotel quarantine related to COVID-19 to cast their ballots.
“If anybody comes to St. Vincent after today, they can’t vote, even your name on the list because if you’re in quarantine you have to get a pass to come and vote by the Chief Medical officer,” Gonsalves said.
“So the number who are in quarantine, eligible to vote is just one or two. The reason why, I don’t want you worry that the person behind you or the one in front of you got COVID. You can line up safe from 7 to 5.
“At 5 o’clock, the two, three, four, five persons who are in quarantine will come. That’s why we put on the extra half an hour for them,” he said.
The prime minister noted that persons who are in the line at 5 p.m. are allowed to vote and if someone in quarantine arrives before 5 p.m., they would have to stay in their vehicle until 5 p.m.
“They can’t come in the line; the police won’t allow them to come in the line,” he said.
“But on that day, the ULP, making sure that we get our people out in safety, we have purchased — I ain’t talk about government, ULP — 50,000 masks, disposable masks, not the one we give out with the star, you can’t wear them on election day, but we will have agents giving you that mask when you’re in the line.
“If you [to] want put it on, you put it on, if yo’ nah wah put it on, you don’t put it on. And if you put it on, when you reach in the polling station, you just take it off so that they go see your face, that is the same face on top ah the ID,” he said.
“Easy, cool runnings. Turn out and vote. Turn out and vote and vote again the Unity Labour Party and its candidates. We not electing Friday on a Thursday, and we dancing on a Friday.”
The ULP is seeking an unprecedented fifth term in office and its main challenger is the New Democratic Party.
Media. Houses we Depend on you.
Sometimes I may be Naive about Politics and the Media Operates in SVG. Blurring the Line between a n Political Party and Government.
Example the Ulp procured 50.000 mask for Election. Is this the Party or the Government Under UlP banner.
This may foolish statement i am make here because Coloration and tribal thinking alot of people from different political party will not want to take a mask from ULP people.
This why it is very important to to point out it is from Government or Party.
The Media have important roll to play in SVG politic to Ask, Verify, and disseminate.
To many time the Media Houses just acted as Sponge. Just suck up all the garbage from these politrickon and just put out verbatim in this Morden age and do not hold them accountable for lying , promises they made and etcs.
This is not the years of Joshua and Cato Government time when recording was limited and only in hands of the Police.
I will say that you have fail us by taking polical side so your judgement is all blur and readers can see political bias in your articles and it is very said .
I my judgement, there is only Independent thinker but he too probably been stave and only give jip and pieces because they fear of his writing. (Mr Chance). And that us wanting .
Proper Informations is vital to the soul.
Are these for ULP only or can I get one as well?
NDP representatives have to be very, very watchful throughout the voting on Thursday but most important from 5.00 to 5.30 pm.
Very sharp eyes are needed for the voting and counting processes.
Does this violate the Representation of the People Act? It could easily be misconstrued as Bribery and Treating for vote-catching purposes. Is the Electoral Board and the SVG Christian Council aware of this? Justice must be done, and even the appearance of justice must be maintained. Otherwise it is ” . . . strupes, corrupt, wutliss politricks, again . . . “
Wats wrong the electoral office provide these masks? After doing everything wrong for Covid-19 the PM coming now with masks now, Is this a new ploy to suppress the vote?