Charges of PNM scare tactics

AMIDST a flurry of Nomination Day activity at the Elections and Boundaries Commissions (EBC) offices throughout Trinidad and Tobago, with 256 candidates filing nomination papers yesterday, came predictions of victory and allegations of voter intimidation and thuggery. PNM Deputy Political Leader Ken Valley said everything went well for that party’s 126 candidates. Valley however was surprised to hear about UNC allegations that PNM was attempting to use “muscle power and scare tactics” because groups of supporters accompanied each of its candidates. “PNM always has a big side to file nominations. That is the PNM way. So what is this scare thing about?” Valley asked. He said this practice began in 1990 when he fought the by-election. “And Morris (Marshall) and I walked to City Hall with one nice big side? We doing that for every election. We doing it in Diego Martin where were don’t even have (real) opposition,” he said. But UNC Local Government Election co-ordinator Chandresh Sharma insisted that while none of the Opposition’s 107 candidates had problems filing their papers, the UNC was concerned of reports reaching Rienzi Complex about PNM “muscle power and scare tactics” being used to intimidate its supporters ahead of the July 14 polls. The Fyzabad MP claimed the PNM was renewing the strategy it employed during last year’s general elections because it was “very worried” about losing next month’s elections and said the UNC would approach Police Commissioner Hilton Guy if their worst fears were realised. Sharma said he received reports of PNM candidates bringing large groups of either URP or CEPEP workers when they came to register and “were making a mockery of the system”. He also alleged that PNM candidates were giving out money and jobs to persons in their electoral districts to swing the vote in their favour.

Meanwhile the UNC’s political partner, the NAR, indicated that it was working feverishly up to yesterday morning to ensure that all 19 of its candidates were registered. NAR Political Leader Lennox Sankersingh said he had been actively involved in the process and no problems were encountered by any NAR candidate. Sankersingh said due to his involvement prior to and during yesterday’s nomination day activities, he could not say whether he agreed with Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday’s condemnation of Government’s new crime initiative which includes the formation of a special police-army unit to deal with gang warfare or the possibility of a looming split within the NAR over the national executive’s decision to team up with the UNC. The NAR’s Tobago arm has condemned the new UNC-NAR accomodation as nothing short of  “a sell out” by the party’s leadership to the Opposition. The PNM is fielding candidates in all 14 local government bodies but the UNC seems to be trying to defend the seven bodies it controls. The NAR’s efforts are centered primarily in Port-of-Spain, Diego Martin and San Juan/Laventille.  However UNC-NAR efforts to stem the PNM’s tide could be thwarted by both parties fielding candidates for the Sangre Grande and Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporations. Up to press time, Chief Elections Officer Howard Cayenne said the EBC was still receiving the A 21 forms from the Returning Officers. “No problems. Things are quiet here,” he said. He added that the EBC had one liasion officer for every six Returning Officers and these officers; in some instances the Returning Officers themselves, were bringing in the A 21 forms. “We will be here late because we need to get on with the printing of the ballot papers and before that is done, we have to know who the candidates are in each of the 126 electoral districts,” Cayenne said.