By Sue-Ann Wayow
TWO campaign offices from opposing political parties had to cover their images and signages just after midday today (Monday, August 14, 2023).
United National Congress (UNC) Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial claimed that police officers insisted that the UNC remove the signage from the election campaign office of their candidate Rishi Balramsingh for Les Efforts West/La Romaine, at Todd Street, San Fernando.
The office is located near the San Fernando West Secondary School polling station.
Lutchmedial, is the election agent for Balramsingh.
She told AZP News on Monday evening that early on in the day, there was a walkabout with Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) officials and there was no issue.
The UNC was instructed to remove a banner near the fence of the polling station which was done.
“And then the police just kept coming back again,” Lutchmedial said.
She claimed the campaign office was more than 100 yards from the polling station in keeping with Section 91 of the Representation of the People’s Act.
Afterwards, she said she went over to a People’s National Movement (PNM) campaign office which was also nearby and told the staff there that if their signs were covered, the UNC would cover theirs as well which was done just after midday with black garbage bags.
Lutchmedial said, “I don’t understand, how do they decide what is campaigning after all. The streets are lined with posters and banners from everybody but that is not the problem. The problem is with the campaign office. It is quite confusing.”
Apart from the issue with police, Lutchmedial said there were no other major issues and was awaiting the vote count just after 6 pm outside the Gulf View Community Centre.
She suggested that the EBC has better training for staff members who may have to deal with different types of people and situations on voting day and said the UNC had lawyers in hotly contested areas to also monitor and provide additional advice and support if needed.
Last week, the EBC reminded the public of the election laws stating , “ignorance of the law is not an excuse.”
THE first voter at the Caparo RC Primary school was a 78-year-old man as polls opened for the 2023 Local Government Elections at 6 am on Monday. He didn’t want to give his name but said the process was good and easy but was disappointed he had only two options on the ballot paper. Another one said he had to go to work so he came early to vote.
UNC said there were issues with the location of a polling station in San Fernando.
Video: Kamla Persad-Bissessar arrives with her husband Dr Gregory Bissessar to vote at the Hermitage Presbyterian School in south. AZP News/Sue-Ann Wayow
