The PM held an impromptu press briefing after an appearance on the LOVE FM morning show. He spoke extensively about Wednesday's vote - including the role that political parties like his one will play in getting the vote out. He concedes that though the politicization of this important national vote is lamentable, it is also necessary to get the vote out:...
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"It's a pity that it has had to come down to this. This whole business started as a national effort, a national decision to negotiate the special agreement and agree on a referendum to determine whether to go to the ICJ. But clearly this has become embroiled in the partisan mix and as supposed to some extent even if they hadn't and we were all going in one direction to get out people to vote on referendum day would still have required mobilization on the part of political parties. There is just no other entity set up to do that. The activities of both parties on that day should help us to have a respectable turn-out. In terms of the UDP, yes I have been trying to raise some funds, because you simply can't move people with respect to any election unless you are able to pay for transport, we were able to do all that we know comes with trying to get out the votes. So it's not been the easiest exercise in the world because precisely since it's not a general election, it's not a political election, financers are not particularly keen on assisting, but I am satisfied that we would have done our best in trying to get people to come out on Wednesday and vote in this ICJ Referendum."
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