UNC wins in Central despite relocation of polling station

Balliram complained on Monday that the EBC notified them of a change in the polling station, usually set at the Freeport Presbyterian School, to the Upper Carapichaima Presbyterian School. But by the end of the night, he was celebrating his victory in the Freeport/Chickland electoral district with the widest margin in the Corporation. The UNC captured all 14 seats in the Corporation and Balliram won with a landslide 3295 votes over the People National Movement’s (PNM) Allison Thomas’ 432.

Asked whether he still thought the EBC was actively working against him, Balliram said, “You see, when you have a proactive approach to the election, it works out in your favour. I had to go around with my car to get people to the polls.” On the other hand, Rajbal’s win was not so easily won, wresting the California/Point Lisas district from the hands of the PNM, earning 1930 votes to the PNM’s Dina Thurton’s 1812. He complained on Monday about the locations of polling stations 3190 and 3185 being switched and only receiving notification on the morning of the election.

The environs of the polling stations, it was said, was known to be a UNC stronghold. Rajbal also drove around to transport frustrated voters to the correct stations throughout the day. He believed it was his legacy as the first Chairman of the Corporation in 1992 that earned him the historically marginal seat. “As I said yesterday, I was confident that I was going to win, but I did not realise it would have been so close,” Rajbal said. “I credit the victory to the leadership of Kamla Persad- Bissessar and the campaign to ‘send them a message’ and my personal involvement and work I have done with all the people of the Corporation.”