By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE United National Congress (UNC) has won the bye-election in Quinam/Morne Diablo electoral district.
By 7.30 pm, the sound of victory resounded from the tassa drums at the campaign head office at Penal Rock Road. Even though the final number of votes was not yet counted, the UNC declared victory with a massive lead in front of the People’s National Movement (PNM).
UNC campaign manager and chairman of the Penal Debe Regional Corporation Gowtam Maharaj said on Monday night, “People are excited here because the result which the people have been predicting is appearing to be just as we had predicted.”
“In a few minutes, we will now be putting a title to Sarah Sookdeo as she will be councillor Sarah Sookdeo for Quinam/Morne Diablo.”
With the counts still coming in at that time, the UNC had 900 votes, the PNM had acquired approximately 200 votes. Anderson Nanan is the PNM’s candidate.
“The numbers don’t lie” Maharaj said.
In her short victory speech Sookdeo said, “There is no doubt with hard work and dedication, great things can happen and that is what happened on the campaign trail and we are expecting great results tonight.”
“Councillor Sarah Sookdeo!” she declared to supporters who were cheering her on.
Sookdeo’s camp was visited by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, herself victorious from supporting the winning slate in the UNC internal election on Saturday.
Sookdeo’s win for the UNC means that the UNC retains its complete control over all the electoral districts under the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation.
By 8 pm though, counts were still coming in for the Lengua/Indian Walk district, in the other bye-election taking place.
