Kamla: I will win

UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was quietly confident of defeating former PP government minister Vasant Bharath to retain the UNC's leadership on Sunday. But she was concerned about reports that some voters brought their children to the polling stations in light of heightened concerns about children contracting covid19

Speaking with reporters after voting at Parvati Girls High School in Debe, Persad-Bissessar said, "With every election, you don't celebrate until after the last vote is counted. So I'll wait until this evening or later tonight." She added that for her Siparia constituency which has over 7,000 UNC members, the final vote could come in late. Other constituencies with fewer polling stations, Persad-Bissessar continued, will have their results determined much earlier.

Persad-Bissessar was satisfied with the overall conduct of the elections. "Thus far, I have had a few complaints but generally it's going smoothly, flowing steadily, slowly." Similar to the August 10 general election, Persad-Bissessar said it is possible the voter turnout may be lower than expected because of covid19. There are approximately 114,000 people eligible to vote in the UNC elections.

She claimed there were complaints from some polling stations that Bharath's Team Lotus has been "overtly campaigning on the compounds, in the stations, along the road with mic-cars". But Persad-Bissessar added, "I don't think it will do them much good but they continue to campaign which is clearly, not expected on an election day."

Persad-Bissessar was concerned about some UNC members bringing their children with them to vote, in the wake of reports on Saturday that three children had been hospitalised after contracting covid19. "It's unfortunate if that is happening because parents need to be more responsible."

While adults' enthusiasm to vote may have resulted in them bringing their children to the polling station, Persad-Bissessar said, "We (UNC) have never encouraged children to come out for elections."

Asked how the party would heal after an intense campaign herself and Bharath, Persad-Bissessar replied, " God is always great. I put God in front. I walk behind." Noting there were unkind statements issued on social media during the campaign, Persad-Bissessar said, "Politics is a civilised form of war and I guess that's what some people see it as."

In a post on social media, UNC activist Devant Maharaj claimed Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit was put out of a polling station in her constituency. Mohit told Newsday, "Totally untrue. I did not go into any polling station." Maharaj, who is supporting Team Lotus, made a similar claim against Moruga/Tableland MP Michelle Benjamin. He also alleged that 15 unregistered people voted in Barrackpore and at 2.30 pm 4,473 people had voted in 17 constituencies.

In a statement, Bharath said, "Despite the many unfair challenges faced by my team from a unilaterally appointed elections committee and the numerous unfair decisions by its chairman, we are confident in the hours ahead, our fellow UNC members will go out and vote for change."