Providenciales, TCI, November 24, 2016 – A warning came Wednesday from the Elections Office as reports are being made about events and happenings that people believe fall into the illegal category of ‘treating’ during this General Election season.
While it is unquestionably tradition for political rallies to feature food, drinks, treats and for holiday time and back to school time to welcome books and bags and pencils or hams and turkeys – the letter of the law, which has long been on the books is being followed with the Elections Office in recent years shifted to UK control through the Governor.
Elections Supervisor, Dudley Lewis informed in a media release that reports have been passed on to the relevant authorities for investigation and advised our 52 nominees to be careful what they do so as not to be in violation of section 70 of the Elections Ordinance which says, “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…” the law now also has the power to convict the one who accepts a ‘treat’ too… ‘Every voter who corruptly accepts or takes any such food, drink, entertainment or provision” can be jailed just like the candidate and or pay a fine of $5,000.
Conviction here also brings into question, integrity and that would activate the other Governor appointed body; the Integrity Commission which has the power to say who is fit or unfit to sit in the House of Assembly.
