Richard Charan Multimedia Editor
Voting Begins - 1,040,011 eligible to cast ballot.
Kamla Persad Bissessar votes
Reporter Nikita Braxton says that at 11.45am the UNC’s Political Leader Persad Bissessar cast her ballot for candidate for the UNC San Fernando West Stacy Roopnarine. She voted at the San Francique High Primary School. Persad-Bissessar spoke with CARICOM chief election observer Dr Hugh Cholmondeley who was at the polling station. Persad-Bissessar said she raised two issued with Dr Cholmondeley. She said she had received several texts, emails, and phone calls from voters saying that the Presiding Officer was not initialling the ballots. She said when the ballots were not initialled, it could be considered a spoilt ballot, and in the marginal constituencies, “it would make a tremendous difference” in the election outcome. Persad-Bissessar also expressed concern over the long lines and slow pace of voting at the San Francique High Primary School, where 700 people are registered to vote. Persad-Bissessar is expected to spent the afternoon in Penal.
Patrick Manning comes “home”.
Photopgrapher Trevor Watson reports that Prime Minister Patrick Manning arrived at his San Fernando East constituency office at Coffee Street, San Fernando this morning after casting his vote at the Belmont Secondary School. Manning was accompanied by party faithful, Tina Nunez-Gronlund. Manning was seen drinking a cup of tea and speaking with a small group of constituency office workers. Manning is expected to spend some time at the office. In previous elections, he has visited polling stations in the constituency and his private residence at Sumadh Gardens, Vistabella.
Polling station moved in Penal.
The UNC’s candidate for Oropouche East Stacy Roopnarine told reporter Nikita Braxton that some constituents turned up at the Penal Convent School, the address given on their polling cards, only to learn that a Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examination was being held at the school. The polling station was moved nearby to the Penal Secondary School, where Roopnarine and the PNM’s candidate for Oropouche East Christin Ramdial voted this morning.
New National Vision (NNV) candidate for La Brea Lorris Ballack.
Ballack told reporter Camille Bethel “today I feel badly for the media. Nobody gave us coverage for our campaign”. Ballack, who will vote at the Palo Seco Government Secondary School this morning, said he had the support of the people. “But then again, I am a ground soldier. Ballack said the motorcade on Sunday was well supported. Ballack is up against the PNM incumbent Fitzgerald Jeffrey and the COP’s Ernesto Kesar. Kesar said there was a situation at the Rousillac Presbyterian Primary school there morning where “people were queuing this morning holding ballot paper in their hands” since this could lead to irregularities.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s personal security asked to leave polling station.
Photographer Dave Persad reports that around 10.35am, the personal security detail of Political Leader of the United National Congress, Kamla Persad-Bissessar came to the polling station at the San Francique Hindu Primary School, where Persad-Bissessar is expected to vote this morning in the constituency of Siparia. They were there to ensure the area was secure, but were asked to leave by polling staff and police officers on duty. The security detail left.
UNC candidate for Pointe-a-Pierre Errol Mcleod votes at Rousillac Presbyterian School.
Reporter Carolyn Kissoon reports that McLeod voted at around 8.20am at the Rousillac Presbyterian Primary School. McLeod said he was confident of winning and would be a “surprised” man should the election swing the other way in the marginal constituency.
Power outage hits three polling stations
Two pollings stations 2405 and 2365, located in Tamana, in the constituency of Cumuto/Manzanilla were reported hit by a power outage shortly after 6am, says outgoing Member of Parliament for the constituency Harry Partap. While the voting process was hampered, it was not stopped.
Express reporter Camille Bethel is reporting that there has also been a power cut at the Guapo Primary School Polling Station. Congress of the people candidate for Point Fortin Nyahuma Obika said he had reported to the Elections and Boundaries Commission this morning that there was a power outage at 9am and the polling station had been left in complete darkness.
“People cannot see to vote. the polling station is as black as a (photographic) dark room”. He said “this is unacceptable and has to be rectified.The Sangre Grande police has also been asked to deal with an issue at the Sangre Grande Government Primary school where supporters of one party is said to be congregating outside a polling station. It is an offence to congregate outside a polling station of within 100 metres of a polling station. Three candidates are vying for the Cumuto/Manzanilla seat, the UNC Collin Partap, the PNM’s Darryl Mahabir and independent Kris Jurai.
Candidate for Couva North Ramona Ramdial votes.
Express photojournalist Krishna Maharaj reports that the United National Congress’ candidate for Couva North, Ramona Ramdial voted at around 6.50a.m at the Monroe Road Hindu Primary School. Ramdial is the candidate chosen to replace incumbent Member of Parliament Basdeo Panday, who did not offer himself as a nominee. Ramdial said the voting process went smmothly. Should she win, Ramdial, a secondary school teacher, said she would immedaitely contact Panday and ask for his help “to elevate the community and make it a better place”. The Peoples National Movement’s (PNM) candidate for Couva North, businessman Nal Ramsingh is expect to cast his ballot at around 10a.m at the McBean Hindu School.
All day coverage.
Express reporters and correspondents are in the field and reporting on the day’s events. Already there are queues forming at polling stations opened at 6a.m. The Meteorological Service predicts rain today. In the 2007 general election, there were 653,228 valid votes cast out of a total electorate of 990,352, approximately 66 per cent. This year, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) says there are 1,040,011 eligible voters. (Trinidad Express)
