Two slates contested the UNC internal elections yesterday, and each slate cried foul at polling stations. Despite a consensus that the process of casting the vote was smooth at the polling venues, candidates from both the Star Team and the United Patriots made accusations of underhanded and deceptive tactics when the polls were open.
Star Team candidate for deputy political leader, Dr Roodal Moonilal, lamented that most of the issues seemed to have stemmed from the polling venues situated in his constituency of Oropouche East. Speaking with Guardian Media after casting his vote at Naparima College, Dr Moonilal accused the United Patriots of using their mock stations to deter voters keen on supporting the Star Team.
A mock station is a venue set up by the respective slates contesting the elections where voters can be assisted with finding their names on the voting list before proceeding to the official polling venue. Dr Moonilal said the United Patriots set up their mock station so close to the polling venue that people thought they were official election staff.
“And if they believe the voters are not for them, they tell them that their names are not on the list. And they are not authorised to turn people back. Only the presiding officer and his staff can tell someone their name is on the list,” he explained.
Dr Moonilal said the Star Team was forced into action to get those voters back.
“We had a situation where several voters left, and we had to retrieve them. We had to send people to pick them up and bring them back. Because their names are on the list, it’s just that they were using another list. I won’t say it’s a fake list, but maybe they weren’t even using a list and just telling people their name is not on the list,” he added.
The deputy leader hopeful said he was very disappointed with this act of deception. “The rules are for everyone; it must be for all. We abide by the rules. In fact, we decided not to put a mock station,” he said.
But the United Patriots’ Anita Haynes-Alleyne countered, saying there was no issue with the positioning of their mock stations. The only issue she heard of with respect to those stations came from the actions of the Star Team. “There was an issue that certain people from the other slate parked their vehicles in front of the mock station,” she said.
The United Patriots’ Rai Ragbir told Guardian Media that the car belonged to Dr Moonilal. But the Patriots’ issues go beyond those mock stations. Ragbir said the presiding officers were using a new voting list in some polling stations that was not authorised by the Election Management Committee (EMC).
After voting at the St Julien Presbyterian School, Haynes-Alleyne provided details on the matter. She told Guardian Media, “We have a certified list from the UNC headquarters which is in keeping with the Election Management Committee’s rules. The presiding officers we dealt with have not been able to show us the same certification for the list, so what our lawyers have been in touch with the EMC to say is clearly that if we are the only ones with the certification, then this should be the only valid list. Because our list came from headquarters.”
EMC chairman Darrell Allahar told Guardian Media there was some confusion during the morning, but it was promptly clarified. But he explained that the voting list is certified by the party’s secretary and made official with a cover page containing the secretary’s signature. Allahar added that presiding officers and candidates should know that the only list to be used is the official one provided by the party’s secretary.
Haynes-Alleyne said they are keeping a watchful eye to ascertain if complaints should be lodged with the EMC following the issuing of preliminary results.
“We are being extremely vigilant; we are taking notes from any of the areas where we know people have been turned away; if they are turned away from voting but they appear on our certified list, we are sending that immediately to the EMC. We are also being very meticulous with the count. How many people entered the polling station? At the end of the day, that is the only number of ballots that we will accept. There can’t be more ballots than warm bodies entering the polling station,” she explained.
Both slates believe voter turnout higher
Meanwhile, there is a belief across both slates that this year’s electorate will be higher than the internal election of 2022. Guardian Media requested from the UNC the total number of people eligible to vote. However, we were told that information is confidential.
Yesterday afternoon, the Star Team’s Jearlean John told Guardian Media that there was a massive turnout at the La Horquetta venue.
She said, “Even before the doors were opened this morning, we had a line, and it never let up. I am talking about crowds, people are very engaged in this process, they understand what it means, and this is really the gateway for general elections.”
Meanwhile, Naparima MP Rodney Charles, who voted in his constituency, said, “I suspect there would be a higher turnout because in the past, when you had no competition and one slate, there was no incentive. But I think there has been a level of activism.”
Haynes-Alleyne also expressed surprise at the turnout, saying it was a good sign considering the elections were held so close to Father’s Day.
There were 37 polling venues with 75 polling stations. Voting took place between 8 am and 6 pm.
Official results by Wednesday
Guardian Media was told that following the closing of the polls, the presiding officers and their team would count their respective ballots. Following the count, they must create a ‘statement of the poll’ that is placed in a sealed envelope.
This statement contains not only the count for that polling venue but signatures from candidates or their respective agents to show that they agree with the results. The statement, along with the locked ballot boxes from all polling venues, are then taken to the UNC headquarters in Chaguanas. There, the EMC would take the final count on each statement and place those votes next to each candidate. Following that process, the votes are tallied, and preliminary results are issued. Candidates wishing to lodge complaints or request a recount have 24 hours after the issuing of the preliminary results to do so. Official results are expected in a few days; Guardian Media was told maybe by Wednesday.
The candidates
The following is the official list of candidates:
DEPUTY LEADER CANDIDATES
Robert Amar (Independent)
Rushton Paray (United Patriots)
Anita Haynes-Alleyne (United Patriots)
Dr Rai Ragbir (United Patriots)
David Lee (Star Team)
Jearlean John (Star Team)
Dr Roodal Moonilal (Star Team)
CHAIRMAN CANDIDATES
Larry Lalla (United Patriots)
Davendranath Tancoo (Star Team)
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN CANDIDATES
Germaine Abdulla (United Patriots)
Hamlyn Jailal (Star Team)
Policy and Strategy Officer
Saddam Hosein–StarTeam
Kiel Taklalsingh–United Patriots
EDUCATION OFFICER
Ravi Ratiram- Star Team
Shanta Seepersad- United Patriots
RESEARCH OFFICER
Jason Ali-United Patriots
Sean Sobers-Star Team
ELECTIONS OFFICER
William Archie-United Patriots
Arnold Ram- Star Team
TREASURER
Curtis Manchoon-United Patriots
Viliana Ramoutarsingh-Star Team
PARTY ORGANISER
Henry Awong-United Patriots
Barry Padarath-Star Team
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICER
Wilfred Morris-Star Team
Deochand Ramjit Singh-United Patriots
TOBAGO REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Kenwyn Phillip-Star Team
Chinelle Roberts-United Patriots
NORTH WEST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Ricky Shanklin-United Patriots
Eli Zakour-Star Team
NORTH EAST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Khadijah Ameen-Star Team
Jairzinho Rigsby-United Patriots
CENTRAL REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Roshan Ali-United Patriots
Vandana Mohit-Star Team
SOUTH REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Shanty Boodram-Star Team
Imran Mohammed-United Patriots