Vernella lashes out at ABC classmate

In winding up debate of the Report, laid under Elections and Boundaries Commission legislation, Alleyne-Toppin alleged attempts by the last PNM government to gerrymander the elections.

However, she said, Rowley had not protested against this with the same fervor with which he protested against Udecott.

As she spoke, Rowley challenged her on several points. At one stage, she rebutted by saying both had once been classmates. “We went to ABC and second year together. Same class, same teacher,” she said.

Noting that on the day of the elections “very small numbers” mattered in the overall tally, the Acting Prime Minister said the inter-island ferry mysteriously shut down on the day of the elections in 2009.

“Hundreds of voters were sitting on that boat and would not come off,” she said.

As former works and transport minister Colm Imbert looked on, Government Chief Whip Dr Roodal Moonilal joked, “Colm Imbert did that!”

Alleyne-Toppin said in one district 200 votes came in. Of these, three were spoilt and the rest, she said, went unanimously in favour of a PNM candidate. She called for an examination of the rules in relation to residency and addresses.

“When the elections come again let us ensure that all of these things that I am raising do not happen again,” she said.

Also speaking during the same debate, Tobago West MP Dr Delmon Baker also attacked the Opposition PNM. He said the party had stool-pigeons in its midst.

“A stool-pigeon sits and waits, looking for the opportunity when a leader can be thrown out of the party and assume leadership,” he said as Rowley and former prime minister Patrick Manning looked on.