Smooth voting in TTUTA elections

VOTING in the triennial elections of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) went smoothly yesterday. There were no reports of any major hiccups up to 4 pm, according to elections officer Edward Ramsumair. The results were expected to be declared late last night and made official today. Teachers began voting from 7 am at 79 polling stations, six of which were in Tobago, and the polls closed at 6 pm. Ramsumair said when schools started at 8.30 am, mobile stations went out to the various schools to accommodate teachers. Each teacher was required to cast six separate ballot papers, as six posts are up for grabs.

They are president, first vice president, second vice president, third vice president, treasurer and general secretary. There are 17 candidates vying for the posts. Vying for the presidency are former TTUTA president Clyde Permell, suspended teacher Wendy Augustus and three-time candidate Amral Hosein. Ramsumair told Newsday to prevent “multiple voting,” the list of voters was revised in September. A total of 10,700 teachers were eligible to vote. Yesterday, outgoing president Trevor Oliver wished all candidates in the election good luck and thanked teachers for their support over the last six years, saying he hoped its executive had done some “positive things” for teachers.