Supporters of Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj set up a mock station near to a polling station at Happy Hill Hindu School in Gasparillo yesterday, drawing objection from election officers. However, the foot soldiers told the election officers that there was nothing in the UNC's constitution that prevented them from setting up a mock station outside of the polling station. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at Grant Memorial Presbyterian School yesterday, Maharaj said there were more than 150 voluntary supporters who were keeping watch at the various polling stations to ensure that the elections proceeded free and fair. "So far, things are running smoothly," he said.
"The one problem we had was when officials at the polling station told us that we cannot have a mock station set up on election day, but my constituents told them that there is no law in the constitution that is against that." Maharaj also said he got a call alleging that Nariva MP Harry Partap was campaigning at a station in Cumuto/Manzanilla where he was in charge. "I would have thought that my brother Harry, being a good Christian, would not engage in such activities, but I spoke to the campaign team and hopefully, he will desist from this," Maharaj said. He also added that he was looking forward to the healing process after the elections were over.
Maharaj also said he was confident that he would become political leader. He said if there was any discrepancies in the elections, then the UNC executive, which included Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Jack Warner and Suruj Rambachan, would be held accountable. Maharaj said changes had to be made in the UNC constitution to ensure that democracy was upheld in the party. "Once I am elected, I am hoping to make two changes to the constitution, the first being a right of recall where every member of the party will have the right to recall any member of the executive once he or she is not doing a good job," he said.
Maharaj also said he wanted to introduce the right to a referendum where party members would have a say in policy decision-making in the party. Meanwhile, chairman of the elections committee, Khemchand Ramdath, during an interview, said that it was unconstitutional for anyone to campaign inside a polling station. He said he had no reports of irregularities and that everything was running smoothly. Partap, however, said he was not campaigning. He alleged that one of Maharaj's foot soldiers was canvassing and he was merely trying to stop him from giving out flyers.