Four of the five electoral seats on which the UNC requested recounts yesterday, remained with the PNM while other recounts continued last night.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) yesterday revealed UNC had sought recounts in five areas.
One limited recount was also requested in the Penal-Debe corporation area. The PNM had requested that recount concerning five of the 13 polling stations in the La Romaine seat.
This follows Monday’s Local Government elections where preliminary estimates showed the PNM and UNC each won seven of the 14 regional corporations. On Monday the PNM won an estimated 74 of the 139 Local Government seats while UNC won 65. PNM’s seats decreased beneath the number the party won in the 2016 polls, but the UNC’s increased over its 2016 performance.
On Monday night the UNC had indicated it would seek recounts in several areas where the party lost narrowly to PNM. Election rules (101 (1) allows candidates or their election agents, to request a final count from the Returning Officer in the electoral district where they contested. Requests had to be made by noon yesterday.
UNC public relations officer Anita Haynes said the UNC had requested recounts in: Marabella West and Cocoyea/Tarouba (both in San Fernando Corporation), Valencia West (Sangre Grande) and Mayaro/Guayaguayare (Mayaro Rio Claro Corporation), Auzonville/Tunapuna (Tunapuna /Piarco Corporation).
Recounts began at 3 pm at the offices of the respective Returning Officers.
By 6 pm, it was disclosed the Marabella West recount was completed and that seat remained with the PNM. UNC also conceded on the Auzonville/Tunapuna seat, after two boxes were counted.
EBC officials confirmed that the UNC candidate for Valencia West did not show up up to 4.45 pm and that recount was cancelled, leaving the seat with the PNM.
It was also confirmed that the Mayaro/Guayaguayare seat will remain with the PNM since the recount showed the PNM with 1,071 votes and the UNC, 893.
Last night, recounts were still on for the Cocoyea/Tarouba seat and regarding the polling divisions in La Romaine.
Also yesterday EBC chief elections officer Fern Narcis-Scope said she couldn’t comment on speculation that Monday’s voter turnout was 22 to 23 per cent. EBC didn’t release any official figure yesterday.
In Monday’s poll, both parties maintained respective strongholds. But the PNM lost ground in San Fernando and other areas and failed in the targetted Siparia corporation. The UNC gained ground in San Fernando and other districts and won Sangre Grande outright. In the 2016 Local Government elections, PNM also won seven corporations.