PNM members were eagerly awaiting the results of yesterday’s internal elections last night.
But up to 9 p.m., there were no results available.
The Elections Supervisory Committee had to separate the ballot papers, according to the different offices, and then put them in different heaps according to the candidates, before counting began.
But the voting process in yesterday’s PNM internal election may have left room for irregularities.
Many of the persons in charge of the conduct of the elections in the various constituencies were supporters of the incoming Political Leader Pennelope Beckles’ One PNM team.
Therefore the other candidates (those who were not on the Beckles’ team) had many complaints about the voting process yesterday.
There appeared to be poor planning and co-ordination as at least one constituency ran out of ballot papers.
Candidate Roger Boynes said the party ran out of ballot papers at the Toco/Sangre Grande polling station.
“We have reached the point where there is no more ballot paper,” he said.
So I was just calling the elections commission committee and they say they’re sending some from the constituency of La Horquetta/Talparo. Because they drop 200 (ballot papers) here. They dropped 150 in different places, but they dropped 1,000 by Foster (Cummings) (former constituency). You understand? So I have a set of people in the line waiting to vote, they can’t vote. You understand? Steups. These people, you know, what they have done? They have sent people all over the place. People from here who are accustomed to voting here, their name all in Tobago, in Naparima, all over the place. They are trying to suppress the votes now. Right? To frustrate the people,” Boynes stated.
“But hopefully, God will make sure that the people’s wish comes true today, in spite of all that is going on. We are here. We just taking notes of all the infractions. But we are still pushing forward in God’s name. That’s what we’re doing,” Boynes added.
“I can only do my best for the people because the people want this, and they’re trying their best to frustrate the whole process,” he said.
He joked that he hoped the ballot papers coming from La Horquetta would not be “fully loaded” (ie, filled out).
Non-members of the PNM voted
One of the main complaints was that persons whose names were not on the voter’s list were being allowed to vote. There were reports that some of these persons were being given permission to vote from persons at Balisier House.
The slate led by Farai Hove Masaisai wrote to the ESC yesterday expressing concerns about non-members voting in the election, among other irregularities.
“We have received several reports, both from our scrutineers and other candidates and their scrutineers, of persons being allowed to vote without their names appearing on the official voters’ list. To date, we have not been provided with the procedure for this highly irregular practice, nor have we been informed who holds the mysterious authority at Balisier House to authorise such votes for persons not on the list by simply a call to Balisier House where someone gives the nod.
“It is our firm position, based on numerous complaints to us, that there are severe irregularities, particularly in the constituencies of La Horquetta and St Ann’s East, concerning the eligibility and process by which individuals are being permitted to cast votes without being properly listed as members of the PNM. These two constituencies in particular have been able to flout the rules and we have been informed that non-members have been voting throughout the day in a PNM internal election. We call immediately for an investigation into these complaints,” St Clair O’Neil, attorney for the People’s Champions Team stated.
O’Neil said the People’s Champions Team was demanding that the Elections Supervisory Committee immediately provide: 1) a comprehensive list of names of the persons being permitted to vote without being on any of the official membership lists given to candidates; and 2) full disclosure of the precise process for allowing such persons to vote and the specific basis upon which this was being permitted and on whose authority such permission was given. The People’s Champions Team called for an urgent investigation into the aforementioned issues to ascertain the extent of the irregularities and hold those responsible accountable, in order to preserve confidence in the integrity and fairness of the internal election process of the PNM.
At 2.46 p.m. yesterday Hilary Bernard (a candidate for the position of Education Officer) wrote to the Elections Supervisory Committee seeking clarification on the addition of two names to the list of electors during the voting process at La Horquetta/Talparo polling station.
Sanjiv Boodhu had the same complaint. At 2.44 p.m. yesterday he sent an email to the Chairman and the Secretary of the Elections Supervisory Committee (Richard Walcott and Annalise Percy).
“There are persons being added to lists in several constituencies following telephone calls made by polling station staff ostensibly to Balisier House. Please indicate what the process is for persons who do not appear on the lists in the hands of the polling Clerk/Presiding/Deputy Presiding Officers, to be added to the list. This is particularly of an urgent nature given that several persons are at various polling stations who are known members of constituencies but appear on neither the regular nor supplementary lists,” Boodhu stated.
In Arima, reports were that virtually every person in the voting line had the flyer with names of the One PNM Team. There was also transportation organised for voters who were given flyers of the One PNM team as they entered the maxi taxis.
Another irregularity occurring in some constituencies was the alleged breaching of the rules about canvassing. Supporters of the One PNM team were said to be handing out flyers with the names of the 15 candidates to voters who were being allowed to take it inside the voting booth. Some of the names of the persons handing out such flyers were provided to the Express. The Express was sent photos of these flyers that were being handed out in Arima, Barataria/San Juan, Point Fortin and Diego Martin Central among other constituencies.
There were also reports that a Councillor from the Laventille area walked outside of the polling station with the ballot paper in his hand. He later claimed that he had to temporarily step outside to assist a relative who was nearby, with a matter.
Kareem Marcelle considers legal options
Though most of the complaints came from the People’s Champions slate and the independent candidates, at least one candidate on the Beckles One PNM team had cause to lodge a complaint with the Elections Supervisory Committee.
Kareem Marcelle, the candidate for Youth Officer, said it was brought to his attention that the “One PNM” logo that should have appeared next to his name was missing on many ballots in several constituencies.
“From reports, I am the only candidate that this appears to have happened with. I have made a complaint to the Elections Supervisory Committee Chairman and I will consider all legal options,” Marcelle said in a Facebook post yesterday.
The turnout was said to be low. But in Arima it was higher than in other constituencies, perhaps with the exception of San Fernando East and La Horquetta/Talparo where a steady flow of voters was evident.
