[UPDATED] EBC does second recount for Lengua/Indian Walk

THE Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) on Thursday said there will be a second recount in the Lengua/Indian Walk district, which falls under the UNC-controlled Princes Town Regional Corporation (PTRC)

Preliminary results in Monday's local government elections showed the PNM candidate Rev Autly Granthume winning the district 1,430 to 1,425 over the UNC's Nicole Gopaul. This gave the PNM a presence in the corporation it has not had since the 1996-1999 period, when Godfrey Lee Sing was the councillor for Moruga.

On Tuesday, the UNC requested a recount of the votes in the district. On Wednesday, this recount resulted in the PNM and UNC being tied with 1,428 votes each

In a statement, the EBC said a second recount for Lengua/Indian Walk would take place later on Thursday.

This recount will be done in accordance with Election Rule 101 (13) of the Representation of the People Act. This rule says, "Where a final count results in an equality of votes between or among the candidates obtaining the most votes, the chief election officer or an officer designated by him for the purpose shall conduct a recount not later than four days after the closing of the poll."

This recount will continue until the conditions of Election Rule 101 (14) are met. This rule is activated when the recount results in one candidate obtaining the most votes.

When that happens the EBC's chief election officer Fern Narcis-Scope will direct the returning officer for Lengua/Indian Walk to declare that candidate as the winner.

Should repeated recounts fail to resolve an electoral tie, the deadlock can be broken through the application of Election Rule 101 (15), which says, "Where the recount results in an equality of votes between or among the candidates obtaining the most votes the chief election officer shall so certify to the returning officer who shall declare the election void and a new election shall, as soon as possible, be held in accordance with these (election) rules."

This means the possibility of holding a by-election in Lengua/Indian Walk, if no clear winner can be established.

Even if a by-election is held, it would not break the overall 7-7 tie between the PNM and UNC. Regardless of who wins the district in a possible by-election, the PTRC remains in the group of seven corporations retained by the UNC.

UNC MP Barry Padarath, one of the party's representatives who is overseeing the recount, said the party wrote to Narcis-Scope on Wednesday, after the first recount ended in a tie.

Padarath said the UNC raised a concern about "the integrity of the process and the security of the ballot boxes." He claimed the UNC's elections team for Lengua/Indian Walk were concerned about the ballot boxes being relocated from the returning officer's office to another location.

"We objected strenuously to that."

Padarath claimed there is a single ballot "which could resolve this entire situation."

He said, "Both the PNM and the UNC are tied after the (first recount). The ballots and the poll cards have been reconciled and there is no issue there."

On the single ballot in question, Padarath claimed it was rejected "despite it being a vote for the UNC."

He said it was rejected because it was not signed by the deputy presiding officer.

"We have called upon the CEO pursuant to the elections rules that the CEO in her purview can determine that that ballot is a valid ballot."

Padarath said the elector who cast this ballot should not be penalised "for the incompetence of the EBC staff by not crossing their t's and dotting their i's."

He added up to now, the EBC has not responded to the UNC's letter. Padarath hoped the issue would be resolved soon.

The EBC also confirmed the UNC's victory over the PNM in the Marabella West district in Monday's local government elections. Marabella West is one of nine local government districts in the SFCC.

This seat falls within the San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC), which the PNM retained on Monday by a margin of 5-4. In 2019, the PNM held it by a 6-3 margin.

In a statement, the EBC said the recount in Marabella West was over.

The final result in Marabella West was 955-927 in favour of the UNC's candidate, John Michael Gabriel Ali Bocus. Ali Bocus received one less vote than the total recorded on Monday. His PNM rival Jameela Marryshow-St Hill received one more vote.

Earlier in the week, the UNC's Sacha Ali was confirmed as the winner in the Marabella South/ Vistabella seat after a recount. Her PNM opponent, Marcus Girdharrie, won the seat for the UNC in 2019.

On Tuesday, Narcis-Scope received 14 requests from the PNM and UNC for recounts after Monday's elections.

Apart from Lengua/Indian Walk, recounts are ongoing in the Arima Northeast and Maracas/Santa Margarita districts.

This story was originally published with the title "EBC confirms UNC win in Marabella West" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) on Thursday confirmed the Opposition UNC's victory over the PNM in the Marabella West district in Monday's local government elections.

The elections ended in a 7-7 tie between the PNM and UNC.

The 2017 elections ended in a 7-7 deadlock as well.

The PNM retained control of the San Fernando City Corporation on Monday by a margin of 5-4. In 2019, the PNM retained it by a 6-3 margin.

Marabella West is one of nine local government districts under the corporation

In a statement, the EBC said the recount in Marabella West was over.

The final result was 955-927 in favour of the UNC. The party's candidate John Michael Gabriel Alibocus received one less vote than the total recorded on Monday.

His PNM rival Jameela Marryshow-St Hill received one more vote.

The status quo was unchanged.

Earlier in the week, the UNC's Sacha Ali was confirmed as the winner in the Marabella South/ Vistabella seat after a recount for that seat. Her PNM opponent, Marcus Girdharrie, won the seat for the UNC in 2019.

On Tuesday, EBC chief election officer Fern Narcis-Scope received 14 requests from the PNM and UNC for recounts after Monday's elections.

Three are still to be completed.

One is in the Lengua/Indian Walk seat, which the PNM won on Monday, giving the party a lone seat in the UNC-controlled Princes Town Regional Corporation, after an absence there of several years.

The last time the PNM had a presence in that corporation was between 1996 and 1999, when Godfrey Lee Sing was the councillor for Moruga.

Preliminary results on Monday showed the PNM winning the district 1,430 to 1.425. The UNC requested a recount.

On Wednesday, the recount for the district resulted in the PNM and UNC being tied with 1,428 votes each.

In its statement, the EBC said a second recount for Lengua/Indian Walk would take place later on Thursday.

This recount will be conducted in accordance with Election Rule 101 (13) of the Representation of the People Act. This rule says, "Where a final count results in an equality of votes between or among the candidates obtaining the most votes, the chief election officer or an officer designated by him for the purpose shall conduct a recount not later than four days after the closing of the poll."

Recounts are ongoing in the Arima Northeast and Maracas/Santa Margarita districts.

The final local government election results will only become available once all outstanding recounts are completed.

After this, the councillors and aldermen of the respective corporations will be sworn in.

At that time, decisions will be made on the appointment of the mayors or chairmen of corporations.