Losing slates unite to challenge Duke's PSA election win

Leader of the Concerned Public Officers (CPO) Curtis Cuffie - Jeff K. Mayers
Leader of the Concerned Public Officers (CPO) Curtis Cuffie - Jeff K. Mayers

Days after Watson Duke was re-elected president of the Public Services Association (PSA), his opponents have united in an attempt to overturn the election results.

In response Duke called on them to “take yuh licks and cool it” and focus on PSA duties.

Duke was re-elected for a third term in Monday's elections with 1,758 votes after a two-day wait for the final results. His team Game Changers will form the executive committee.

On Wednesday night Duke declared victory in a Facebook live stream with a document provided by the elections officer of the final total of votes.

On Friday, Duke’s opponents, at a media conference, said they were dissatisfied with the way the election was handled. They told the media they refused to accept the results and vowed to do all they can to squash what they describe as an “unfair and illegal” election.

Curtis Cuffie of Concerned Public Officers, Ian Murray from Labour Warriors, Oral Saunders of United Public Officers, Nixon Callender of Team Sentinel and Gregory Cova of Premium Value have merged to challenge the election results.

Murray claimed there may have been malfeasance that led to the delay in the official results. Murray said, “I have been in the PSA for 38 years and this is the first time the election results didn’t come out on the same night of the election.”

Cuffie said he received reports from voters who were allegedly turned away from polling stations.

The men promised to bring a defence that would “put the union to the place where it belongs.”

Contacted for a comment, Duke told Newsday, “They should stop acting like little children who want the game to play over because you didn’t get to score or you didn’t win. Public officers rejected you all. You campaigned on total stupidity. You campaigned on Watson Duke, not on the membership.

"The Game Changers, we campaigned on the membership, we campaigned on the future of persons and we have already started to deliver.”

Duke said the elections are over and it is now important for the others to focus on working together for the best interest of public servants.

“They are in need of spiritual guidance, because they are a lost cause, and we have no regard for their tears. Election is over. Now get back to work. Over the next three months public servants' lives will be transformed and representation will be moved to the apex of human expectations."

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