EBC likely to discuss election verdict Thursday

Chief Election Officer Ramesh Nanan yesterday confirmed the EBC will hold its regular meeting on Thursday.

“Matters that came up recently may be discussed,” Nanan told Newsday.

On Friday, Justice Mira Dean-Armorer ruled the EBC acted unlawfully by extending the voting hours by one hour. The judge, however, found the breach did not materially affect the outcome of the election given the proportion of votes which took place between 6 pm and 7 pm. She dismissed the election petitions brought by the Opposition United National Congress. Further, she found the EBC officials acted in “good faith” and did not find evidence of corruption.

The judge also said there were no rules governing the situation involving torrential rainfall on an election day and opinied that one option at the time was getting Cabinet to pass legal measures.

At the time of the election last year, the EBC chairman was Dr Norbert Masson. He later retired and Mark Ramkerrysingh was this year appointed as the new chairman by President Anthony Carmona.

According to the judge’s ruling, on September 7, 2015, Masson asked the EBC’s senior legal officer Fern Narcis-Scope to contact then commissioners Mark Ramkerrysingh and Dr Noel Kalicharan with a view to extending the voting hours from 6 pm to 7 pm.

According to the EBC’s website, Ramkerrysingh is currently the chairman and Kalicharan is still a commissioner. Another commissioner, Danielle Chow, is listed.

Narcis-Scope is still listed as the legal officer.

Nanan was Chief Elections Officer last September.

There has been a call by Opposition Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal for the commissioners to resign in the wake of the ruling.

Both the Government and the Opposition have claimed victory in relation to the case. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar has signalled an intention to appeal. Nanan said legal matters were for the commission to deliberate on.