[UPDATED] UNC, NTA accuse EBC of bias

THE UNC and the NTA, partnering in an electoral accommodation for the August 14 local government elections, each accused the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) of political bias in its press release summarising the outcome of last Monday's nomination day.

NTA leader Gary Griffith and UNC PRO Dr Kirk Meighoo both complained in statements that the EBC said the PNM was the only political party contesting in all 141 seats, when in fact the UNC-NTA-MND coalition will also vie in all seats.

However, Griffith also told Newsday that the UNC, NTA, and MND had registered as individual parties not as a coalition, just as the People's Partnership in 2010 had not registered but just its parties – UNC, COP, TOP, NJAC and MSJ – saying, "This is no different."

"The only thing the EBC needs to be aware of is the symbol of the political party which is going up in that relevant constituency."

He chided the EBC's mention of 141 PNM candidates, saying, "The fact, however, is that even though what was written by the EBC was factual, it was biased."

On Tuesday, an EBC statement said 373 candidates will contest the elections, saying, "Ten political parties have put forward candidates with the People’s National Movement being the only political party with candidates in all 141 electoral districts." The EBC named the nine other parties.

The EBC, in reply to a Newsday query, on Thursday said in a WhatsApp message, "The information presented in the press release came from the nomination papers filed by the candidates." Thanking Newsday for its question, the EBC said it would "not be speaking any further on this matter."

On checking, Newsday verified that in the 2019 local government elections, after nomination day the EBC issued a statement on November 13, 2019, titled 339 vying for local government elections.

That statement said, "The People's National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC) are the only two political parties which have put forward a full slate of candidates." The statement also mentioned candidacies by the COP, MSJ, MND, PPM and NTP.

In a statement on Wednesday, UNC PRO Dr Kirk Meighoo alleged the EBC "has again exposed its political bias through a highly partisan media release" on the election.

"In an inappropriate and curious public statement, the EBC found it necessary to announce that the People’s National Movement was 'the only political party with candidates in all 141 electoral districts.'"

The party said that assertion was outrageous and disturbing since the EBC’s constitutional remit was to independently conduct elections without any perception of prejudice or unfair influence.

"The UNC and NTA are contesting all 141 electoral districts in an electoral accommodation, but this important fact was not stated in the EBC’s release."

Alleging that the PNM had subverted the independence of virtually every public agency, the UNC dubbed the EBC statement as "prejudicial" and indicative of the PNM encroaching upon the EBC.

"In light of the damaging declaration by the EBC and other previously expressed concerns, the United National Congress once more calls for independent international observers to oversee the August 14 local government polls.

"The UNC calls upon conscientious citizens and respected impartial organisations to publicly support this legitimate and justifiable demand."

Newsday asked Meighoo if the EBC still deserved criticism since the UNC, NTA and MND had not registered as a single coalition.

He replied, "This is not a coalition, but an accommodation, as in the 1983 Accommodation between the National Alliance and the ONR. We are not one unit.

"There is no need for selective commentary by the EBC, repeating PNM talking points."

Griffith in a statement said the EBC press release "could have easily been mistaken as a release coming straight out of Balisier House itself."

He said by listing the PNM separately, and saying they were the only party fielding candidates for all seats whilst listing the ‘other’ parties in alphabetical order, sends the wrong message.

"The EBC needed to use an alphabetical order or numerical order, not both, as this is not only confusing, it creates in the minds of even the most neutral citizen the perception that the EBC is biased and politically compromised.

"To deliberately neglect the fact that the UNC and the NTA formed a strategic alliance to contest all 141 seats reeks of unprofessionalism, if not blatant political bias."

Accusing the Government of repeatedly being willing to step into the affairs of independent bodies, and being forced to call the election against their will, Griffith said this was not the public look that the EBC should be portraying. "It reinforces why election observers were repeatedly requested."

This story was originally published with the title "UNC, NTA allege bias by EBC" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE UNC and the NTA, partnering in an electoral accommodation for the August 14 local government elections, each accused the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) of political bias in its press release summarising the outcome of last Monday's nomination day.

On Tuesday, an EBC statement said 373 candidates will contest the elections, saying, "Ten political parties have put forward candidates with the People’s National Movement being the only political party with candidates in all 141 electoral districts." The EBC named the nine other parties.

The EBC, in reply to a Newsday query, on Thursday said in a WhatsApp message, "The information presented in the press release came from the nomination papers filed by the candidates." Thanking Newsday for its question, the EBC said it would "not be speaking any further on this matter."

A statement by UNC PRO Dr Kirk Meighoo alleged the EBC "has again exposed its political bias through a highly partisan media release" on the election.

"In an inappropriate and curious public statement, the EBC found it necessary to announce that the People’s National Movement was 'the only political party with candidates in all 141 electoral districts.'"

The party said that assertion was outrageous and disturbing since the EBC’s constitutional remit was to independently conduct elections without any perception of prejudice or unfair influence.

"The UNC and NTA are contesting all 141 electoral districts in an electoral accommodation, but this important fact was not stated in the EBC’s release."

Alleging that the PNM had subverted the independence of virtually every public agency, the UNC dubbed the EBC statement as "prejudicial" and indicative of the PNM encroaching upon the EBC.

"In light of the damaging declaration by the EBC and other previously expressed concerns, the United National Congress once more calls for independent international observers to oversee the August 14 local government polls.

"The UNC calls upon conscientious citizens and respected impartial organisations to publicly support this legitimate and justifiable demand."

NTA head Gary Griffith in a statement said the EBC press release "could have easily been mistaken as a release coming straight out of Balisier House itself."

He said by listing the PNM separately, and saying they were the only party fielding candidates for all seats whilst listing the ‘other’ parties in alphabetical order, sends the wrong message.

"The EBC needed to use an alphabetical order or numerical order, not both, as this is not only confusing, it creates in the minds of even the most neutral citizen the perception that the EBC is biased and politically compromised.

"To deliberately neglect the fact that the UNC and the NTA formed a strategic alliance to contest all 141 seats reeks of unprofessionalism if not blatant political bias."

Accusing the Government of repeatedly being willing to step into the affairs of independent bodies, and being forced to call the election against their will, Griffith said this was not the public look that the EBC should be portraying.

"It reinforces why election observers were repeatedly requested."