Voting goes well in San Fernando

Candidates and supporters of the two main parties, the PNM and the UNC, were confident of victory, saying voting in the local government elections at various polling stations in the San Fernando district went smoothly on Monday.

Shortly after 9 am, Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister Kazim Hosein joined his brother Ryaad Hosein, the incumbent PNM Les Efforts East/Cipero candidate, and another brother, Afraz Hosein, to vote at the San Fernando Central Secondary School at Todd Street.

The minister said the process went smoothly, and the workers were well trained. Hosein said most voters were the elderly and working people.

"I have been dealing with the whole of San Fernando, the nine districts, and so far, no issues have been reported to me," he said.

As expected, the overall turnout was low. But Hosein anticipated his brother would retain the seat.

Hosein's brother also said the process went smoothly, and based on the feedback from burgesses, he said he would retain his seat.

John Michael Alibocas, aka Makamillion, the UNC candidate for Marabella West, spoke to reporters after voting at the Anstey Memorial Girls' Anglican School at Drayton Street in San Fernando at midmorning.

His sister Faye Alibocus, the 2003 TT representative in the Miss Universe competition, accompanied him. He thanked her, saying she had flown in from New York to support him. He expressed love to his "community, Marabella West, and TT."

He also thanked Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for giving him the chance to serve.

Opposition MPs – San Juan/Barataria MP Saddam Hosein and Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram– met Alibocus outside the polling station to support him.

The first-time candidate said voting went smoothly, the people were nice, and there was "lots of love."

Alibocus said his campaign was intense, and he heard the cries of the people and went from house to house.

"It was emotional for me, especially since my mum is not here, "Alibocus said.

His parents died of cancer some years ago. Alibocus previously told Newsday he had fulfilled one of his mother's dying wishes by throwing his hat into the political ring.

On the results, he said, "I think I am going to be victorious. I am ready to serve. I am ready to be there for the people."

PNM Marabella South/Vistabella candidate Marcus Girdharie, the former UNC councillor for the district, was also confident of victory after voting at the Mon Repos Regional Complex on Monday.

Girdharie said the process was "seamless." He said earlier in the day, his daughter Shalom Girdharie, 20, had voted for the first time.

"I am very proud of her, and she is elated that she could cast her very first vote for elections and her father as well," she said.

A hiccup saw police going to the campaign office of Rishi Balramsingh, the candidate for Les Efforts West/La Romaine at the corner of Westwood and Todd Street, San Fernando, to ask for banners and signs on the building to be removed.

The police said the banners were too close to the San Fernando West Secondary School polling station.

UNC senator/election agent Jayanti Lutchmedial said the police considered it campaigning.

"But this is called a campaign office, and therefore we had the signage in effect, just like other political parties," Lutchmedial said as she stood beside Balramsingh's father, Rudra Balramsingh.

Lutchmedial said she spoke to the head of the Southern Division, Snr Supt Richard Smith, and told him they were more than 100 yards away, "as established under the law."

"I have asked him to look into it and to have a conversation with his officers," Lutchmedial added.

When Newsday visited the office again, the signs had been removed.