By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) will be seeking judicial review in order to be allowed to go back to the polls in the constituencies which the PEP lost in last month’s general election.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, PEP political leader Phillip Alexander said two decisions were made and unanimously carried out, one to the party’s executive and the other to the general membership.

The second motion dealt with the agreement to pursue a re-vote through a court petition for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West and “any other constituency interested in doing so,” Alexander said.

Alexander contested the Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West seat under the banner of the United National Congress (UNC) coalition which was won by the People’s National Movement (PNM) Stuart Young.

Alexander who does not believe the final vote count as released by the Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC), received 2,597 votes to Young’s 7,243.

He said, “It is our intention to seek judicial review of the process. We do not believe that the Elections and Boundaries Commission handled these constituencies professionally and we do not trust the mechanism that it is now and in that regard, we are pursuing a re-vote. And we would like a re-vote with observers.”

The PEP contested three seats for the UNC Coalition  Diego Martin North East with Brendon Butts, Diego Martin West with Janice Miller Learmond-Criqui and Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West with Alexander.

On the first motion, Alexander said the party’s executive was in agreement that the PEP should merge with the UNC reaffirming that the PEP was not yet officially disbanded.

He said, “Now that we have identified that the two parties are on the same ideological track and we have the same policies it does not make sense to continue to confuse the voter with two different brands, two different vehicles.

“We have already been through the process of working together and we work together well, we think that it is in the best interest of everybody that the United National Congress be the vehicle and we all bring what we have to it and continue to grow it into a super party that can challenge and win the constituencies in the East West Corridor.”

When asked if the party was officially disbanded, he replied, “We have agreed to pursue a mechanism that involves having a conversation with the executive of the United National Congress to see what works for them. Once that process has been handled, we will come back and tell you where we are with.”

The party is hopeful that the merging of assets and policies with the UNC can take place before the next local government election becomes constitutionally due.

Alexander was named as a senator and Minister in the Ministry of Housing earlier this week.

In a statement on Facebook, he thanked Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for the opportunity.

“I resolve to work tirelessly to achieve her vision, and am ready to get to work, to engage with all communities and stakeholders, and to bring real solutions to the challenges facing our citizens… I look forward to serving you with integrity, transparency, and a relentless drive for progress,” Alexander wrote.