UNC elections deemed fair

A COMMISSION of inquiry into the National Executive Elections of the United National Congress (UNC) has found that the polls were conducted in “a most unbiased and commendable manner.” Sole Commissioner, UNC Deputy Political Leader Austin “Jack” Warner, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, recommended that the results of the elections, including that of the post of Deputy Chairman, which had been challenged, should stand. The inquiry was held after questions were raised about the conduct of a recount for the keenly contested position of Deputy Chairman. Vasant Bharath was declared winner but that result was challenged by Gary Griffith, an official of the party.

The inquiry considered written statements submitted by Bharath, as well as Griffith. The latter had recommended that Bharath resign as Deputy Chairman and a new one be appointed by the party’s National Executive. An account of the election procedure was given by Ramnath Ramcharitar, a member of the UNC’s Election Management Committee (EMC), who maintained that the sealed ballot boxes from the respective polling stations had all been signed for and stored in a secured office. The Commission also heard from General Secretary Fazal Karim, who said Griffith did not supply evidence to substantiate his allegations with regard to the election procedure. He said in all instances where issues were raised by any party during the recount, these were immediately dealt with. The Commission found that large increases in votes at the recount, particularly in Princes Town and Oropouche, were due to human error since the “way in which the ballot sheets were configured could also lead to errors in counting.”