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Author Topic: T&T General Elections Thread  (Read 168577 times)

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Offline Socapro

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #990 on: September 18, 2015, 09:56:53 PM »
I believe the UNC executive knows very well they have little to no chance of winning this fight in court. This is a move to rally their base support. If they can have their supporters believe the election was stolen this will keep their supporters behind the call of the rising sun and add more hatred fuel towards the PNM

In other words the UNC wants to keep their supporters in ignorance.
How could the UNC have known that they were ahead in all the marginal’s at 6pm unless they were breaking elections rules and had someone on the inside counting votes before the official counting had begun?

If I was a court judge I would insure that someone in UNC makes a jail for violating the elections rules by forwarding this ridiculous argument that they knew they were ahead in the marginal’s at 6pm.

It must also be noted that in the Marginal constituencies of Arima, Arouca/Maloney, D’Abadie/O’Meara, Lopinot/Bon Air West, San Fernando West, St Joseph and Tunapuna the PNM won by large margins ranging from 2K minimum to as much as 10K.
And even if the UNC illegally gained info that they were ahead in the marginal’s at 6 pm then they are also asking the public and court to believe that between 2,000 to 10,000 PNM people voted in each of the marginal seats in the last hour between 6 & 7pm while no PP people voted?!
Yeah right and I also believe that Kamla don't drink and always tells the truth.  :bs:

There was only one marginal where the PNM victory was by less than 1000 votes and that was Moruga/Tableland where PNM won by 533 votes.
To balance that off UNC won the marginal seat of Barataria/San Juan by just 580 votes over the PNM.
It is quite likely that if the elections were held again in these two marginal constituencies that PNM will win Moruga/Tableland by a much larger margin and that the UNC will lose Barataria/San Juan to the PNM.
Does the UNC really want to test their luck with the electorate so soon again after annoying them more than enough over the last 5 years and 3 months?

The only point of taking this to court at this point is to establish more clearly in law if the EBC can legally decide to extend the voting time during elections in the future to allow eligible voters a decent chance to exercise their democratic right to vote if there is similar case of adverse weather conditions during the day of the elections.

I don't think any serious court will declare the elections null and void once the EBC demonstrates that its decision was done to allow the maximum number of T&T citizens the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote for any party they wanted to on Election Day despite the adverse weather conditions that made it difficult for many to make it to the polling stations.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2015, 10:29:14 PM by Socapro »
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Offline Bourbon

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #991 on: September 19, 2015, 01:34:04 AM »
While all that would be logical conclusions for most people... Trinidad's legal system is always good for surprises. And it's the UNC.
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline pull stones

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #992 on: September 19, 2015, 06:29:28 AM »
hate to say it, but i told you so. when i initially heard that they were going to challenge the election results i came to the conclusion that it would be a tedious drawn out process to distract the ruling party from getting anything done. right now the PNM can't afford to down size labor or reduce spending until this thing is over, and god knows when that would happen.

i believe it's a really down right dirty strategy on the UNC's path to derail the new government from fully implementing their plans. ant the judges in trinidad in my opinion cannot be trusted. i am also very disappointed with dr rowley for not even addressing this distraction in the least, and was very silent on the whole issue. i hope to god that they would deal with this foolishness and allow the elected government resume the business of governing the country.

there is never a dull moment in the politics of trinidad and tobago, and if we think this will be all,then stay tuned to your sets because there's more drama waiting in the wings.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #993 on: September 19, 2015, 06:50:08 AM »
Better that the PM not engage the UNC challenge. He has nothing to gain from entering into that public conversation.

Offline pull stones

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #994 on: September 19, 2015, 07:05:24 AM »
Better that the PM not engage the UNC challenge. He has nothing to gain from entering into that public conversation.
what if , and i am saying this hypothetically, but lets suppose that they are obliged and a judge rule in their favor to re-contest these six seats, then what? rowley needs to cross all his Ts and dot all his Is when dealing with these people. they have proven without a doubt that they should not be taken lightly. the fact that they have all these legal professionals in their cabal, they must know that there are some loopholes in the law that they could exploit to advance their cause.

i believe it would be wise of rowley if he would at least do some damage control to off set this damper.

Offline Socapro

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UNC wins election petition
« Reply #995 on: September 19, 2015, 07:26:01 AM »
UNC wins election petition
By SEAN DOUGLAS Saturday, September 19 2015 (T&T Newsday)


THE United National Congress (UNC) last night won round one in its battle against the September 7 general results when Justice Mira Dean Armorer ruled that the party’s election petition can move forward and be heard before the courts.

This as the UNC made good on its promise to use the courts as its avenue to have the election result overturned on the ground that a decision to extend the voting time in Trinidad by one hour, was illegal.

Attorneys Gerald Ramdeen and Wayne Sturge entered the Hall of Justice in Port-of- Spain yesterday afternoon where they appeared before Justice Mira Dean Armorer where they filed the petition. Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) chairman Norbert Masson was present at the Hall of Justice.

The crux of the UNC’s case for filing the petition surrounds the EBC’s decision to extend by one hour, the deadline for voting from the usual 6 pm to 7 pm on election day on account of inclement weather. The UNC contends that this extra hour worked against the People’s Partnership push for victory. Persad-Bissessar has claimed that at 6 pm on the day of the election, her party was ahead of the People’s National Movement (PNM).

The general election results showed the PNM winning the election and forming the new government by a margin of 23 seats to the UNC’s 17 seats and one seat for the COP. Two days after the general election, PNM leader Keith Rowley was sworn in as Prime Minister.

The UNC is challenging the results in six seats namely the crucial marginal seats of San Fernando West, St Joseph, La Horquetta/ Talparo, Toco/Sangre Grande, Moruga/ Tableland and Tunapuna.

UNC candidate for Toco/Sangre Grande and former Sport Minister Brent Sancho was seen entering the Hall of Justice.

The UNC was seeking the court’s leave to file a suit challenging the result of the election on the basis of the EBC wrongfully extending voting time by one hour.

After Justice Dean Armorer granted the UNC leave to file its claim against the general election result, Masson and EBC attorneys left the Hall of Justice and stormed past the battery of reporters gathered outside the Hall of Justice.

Attorney Wayne Sturge said the ruling was a slap in the face of Attorney General Faris Al Rawi who said the petition was vexatious and without merit.

“Contrary to what was espoused by the Attorney General that this was a vexatious petiton that was without merit, this stage was to weed out applications that are indeed vexatious and the court has found that there is merit in our petition.

We got leave to file our application,” Sturge said.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2015, 07:36:47 AM by Socapro »
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Offline Socapro

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #997 on: September 19, 2015, 10:17:05 AM »

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1202890129738041&set=a.748429331850792.1073741828.100000511955815&type=1&theater



I guess the UNC is hoping that the EBC did not keep a record of this request for an extension from UNC candidate David Anthony Lee who was contesting Point-A-Pierre?
Another point that is going to make it very difficult for the UNC to win its case about their party being put at a disadvantage by the 1 hour extension.

The reality is that the UNC/PP would have benefitted just as much from the one hour extension as the PNM and other parties did and it was a reasonable decision that was made by the EBC based on the weather conditions.

Maybe if the UNC did more to reduce regular flooding in T&T during their time in office then the EBC would not have found it necessary to extend the voting time by an hour due to the bad weather to allow voters experiencing traffic delays getting to their polling stations before 6pm.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2015, 11:07:15 AM by Socapro »
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Offline Socapro

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #998 on: September 19, 2015, 10:22:57 AM »
I believe that the UNC petition does have some merit not in regards to nullifying the election results in those marginal constituencies where the UNC wants to challenge the results but rather in giving more clarity and guidance to the EBC for the future on whether it is legal for them to use their discretion to extend the election voting time by an hour if similar circumstances were to reoccur due to adverse weather conditions in their efforts to enable as much of the electorate as possible to exercise their legal right to vote.

It should also be brought up in this case by the EBC chairman Norbert Masson and his EBC attorneys regards the worrying matter that the UNC has claimed that they knew they were ahead at 6pm before the official counting of votes had started.
Now how was the UNC/PP to know they were ahead at 6pm in the marginal constituencies unless they illegally had people inside the polling stations of all the marginal constituencies counting the votes before the official legal count started after 7pm? They need to explain that to the court as it is most worrying.

Another thing that seems quite impossible in the marginal constituencies where the UNC wants to have the elections results nullified is how could so many PNM voters have voted in the last hour between 6pm & 7pm while no UNC/PP voters voted during this same period?

If the UNC is able to get past the above about how they were able to LEGALLY find out that they were ahead at 6pm in the six marginal seats of San Fernando West, St Joseph, La Horquetta/Talparo, Toco/Sangre Grande, Moruga/ Tableland and Tunapuna where they want to challenge the results;
Then the UNC also needs to prove to the courts that in:-

San Fernando West (where PNM polled 10,112 votes and UNC polled 6,802 votes):
UNC must prove that PNM gained over 3,310 votes between 6pm & 7pm while the UNC gained 0 votes during this extra last hour.

St Joseph (where PNM polled 10,536 votes and UNC polled 8,903 votes):
UNC must prove that PNM gained over 1,634 votes between 6pm & 7pm while the UNC gained 0 votes during this extra last hour.

La Horquetta/Talparo (where PNM polled 10,428 votes and UNC polled 7,606 votes):
UNC must prove that PNM gained over 2,822 votes between 6pm & 7pm while the UNC gained 0 votes during this extra last hour.

Toco/Sangre Grande (where PNM polled 12,005 votes and UNC polled  8,101 votes):
UNC must prove that PNM gained over 3,904 votes between 6pm & 7pm while the UNC gained 0 votes during this extra last hour.

Tunapuna (where PNM polled 11,228 votes and UNC polled  7,613 votes):
UNC must prove that PNM gained over 3,615 votes between 6pm & 7pm while the UNC gained 0 votes during this extra last hour.

The only seat where UNC may have a serious argument that they could have lost because of the extra hour if they were indeed ahead at 6pm is Moruga/Tableland. But again how could UNC legally know they were ahead at 6pm? Someone in the UNC must have been breaking the elections rules for them to know this!

Moruga/Tableland (where PNM polled 10,808 votes and UNC polled  10,275 votes):
UNC must prove that PNM gained over 533 votes between 6pm & 7pm while the UNC gained 0 votes during this extra last hour.

However PNM can also have the same sore-loser argument that they lost the marginal constituency of Barataria/San Juan by a similar margin due to the extra hour and ask for that seat to be contested again because they are unhappy about losing it.

Barataria/San Juan (where PNM polled 8,182 votes and UNC polled  8,722 votes):
Is it possible that UNC gained over 540 votes between 6pm & 7pm while the PNM gained 0 votes during this extra last hour?
We can speculate until the cow jumps over the moon but we can never be sure unless we were breaking the elections rules to start with by having folks inside the polling stations illegally counting the votes for each party before the official count had started.

The results in the marginal constituency of Moruga/Tableland in PNM's favour by 533 votes and in the marginal constituency of Barataria/San Juan in UNC's favour by 540 votes basically cancel out each other meaning that any unbiased judge after analysing the large margins of victory that PNM won by in the marginal’s that UNC is disputing will sensibly throw out the UNC's case if the case ever gets to this point.

Hopefully the case will help to clarify if the EBC can legally take similar action in the future in the interest of the democratic process. However there is no doubt that any unbiased court will ensure that the results of the 2015 elections stand in the interest of democracy in T&T as the UNC cannot legally prove to any sane judge that the extra hour was to their or any other party's disadvantage based on the circumstances.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2015, 11:10:27 AM by Socapro »
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Offline Sando prince

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #999 on: September 19, 2015, 11:20:06 AM »



Offline Socapro

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UNC granted leave to file petition against EBC
« Reply #1000 on: September 19, 2015, 11:26:06 AM »
UNC granted leave to file petition against EBC
Published: Saturday, September 19, 2015 (T&T Guardian)


Elections and Boundaries Commission chairman Dr Norbert Masson is swarmed by the media as he leaves the High Court in Port-of-Spain last night, after the United National Congress was granted leave to challenge election results in six constituencies. Photo: ABRAHAM DIAZ

The United National Congress (UNC) has crossed the first hurdle in its challenge of the Elections and Boundaries Commission’s decision to extend last Monday’s general election voting by one hour due to rainy weather.

Lawyers representing the UNC, which lost the election to the PNM 23-18, last night received leave to pursue their petitions from High Court Judge Mira Dean-Armour after an emergency hearing in the Port-of-Spain High Court which ended after 7 pm.

Media personnel were not allowed in the court for the hearing, which was attended by unsuccessful UNC candidate for Toco/Manzanilla Brent Sancho and EBC chairman Dr Norbert Masson.

In a brief interview after the case, attorney Wayne Sturge claimed the result vindicated former prime minister and UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who first took issue with the EBC’s decision after her party’s election defeat.

“This is a slap in the face of those who believed that it was frivolous and vexatious. This shows that the rule of law prevails and in due course we will get our justice,” Sturge said.

Given Dean-Armour’s ruling, the lawyers will now have to file the petitions and will then have to wait for a date for the case to be heard.

“We feel that given past experience this is something that is dealt with expeditiously. We think it should be dealt with in the space of nine months,” Sturge said, adding that the eventual decision on the petitions could only be appealed to the Court of Appeal and not to this country’s final court, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council.

The UNC was also represented by Gerald Ramdeen. The EBC was not represented by any attorneys during the hearing, which was held ex-parte.

The UNC is claiming that the EBC’s rules and the Constitution give the EBC only the power to adjourn an election in instances of public violence and not the power to extend the traditional election timeframe of 6 am to 6 pm. The party is seeking to have the court declare the results in six marginal constituencies null and void. The disputed constituencies are San Fernando West, La Horquetta/Talparo, Toco/Sangre Grande, Tunapuna, St Joseph and Moruga/Tableland.

In the event the party is successful the court may order that by-elections be held or may possibly rule that a declaration that the EBC breached its powers be granted.

Responding to the UNC’s initial threat of the petitions last week, the EBC defended its position and said that section 71 of the Constitution gave it autonomy to manage the registration of voters and the conduct of the election in an unfettered manner.

Election results in disputed constituencies

Constituency                     UNC    PNM


San Fernando West       6,802    10,112

La Horquetta/Talparo    7,606    10,428

Tunapuna                        7,613    11,228

St Joseph                         8,903    10,536

Moruga/Tableland        10,275    10,808

Toco/Sangre Grande      8,101    12,005
« Last Edit: September 19, 2015, 11:31:01 AM by Socapro »
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Offline Sando prince

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1001 on: September 19, 2015, 11:47:24 AM »




So what is the criteria for only challenging the six seats that they (the UNC) lost and not the others?

Offline Socapro

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1002 on: September 19, 2015, 11:55:50 AM »




If UNC has a case to dispute the results in those marginal constituencies because of the extra hour then PNM also has a case to dispute the results in Barataria/San Juan, Point-A-Pierre, Chaguanas East, Mayaro, Cumuto/Manzanilla & Fyzabad since the UNC could also have benefitted from an extra hour of voting in those constituencies?

The only reason I agree with this case going ahead is because it will hopefully give the EBC clearer guidelines for the future about its power to extend the voting time by an hour in the interest of the democratic process due to bad weather conditions or other circumstances.
The fact that the UNC had agreed to the extension of the time when they got the news at their headquarters around 2:30pm on election day and sent out messages to its voters to take advantage of the extra hour should work against the UNC winning this case in claiming any disadvantage outside of their track record and performance over the past 5 years & 3 months.
In addition one of the UNC candidates in Point-a-Pierre also requested extra voting time to the EBC in writing due to two of the polling stations in his constituency not opening promptly at 6am.

I don't think the UNC can win the case of getting the election results nullified in those marginal constituencies unless they can clearly prove that the extra hour was to their voters’ disadvantage rather than advantage.

I believe what the UNC is trying to do here is similar to what they were trying to do with the failed "Run-off Bill" for the Marginal constituencies because they believe they have more spending power than PNM to be able to contest more than one election in a short space of time in these so-called marginal constituencies. What the UNC is not accounting for is that the general T&T electorate has decided that the UNC/PP blew their chance in power for good governance and couldn't wait to fire them from office. Going back again for By-Elections is likely to lead to even worse results for the UNC in these so-called marginal constituencies.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2015, 05:19:51 PM by Socapro »
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Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1003 on: September 19, 2015, 03:03:35 PM »




If UNC has a case to dispute the results in those marginal constituencies because of the extra hour then PNM also has a case to dispute the results in Barataria/San Juan, Point-A-Pierre, Chaguanas East, Mayaro, Cumuto/Manzanilla & Fyzabad since the UNC could also have benefitted from an extra hour of voting in those constituencies?

The only reason I agree with this case going ahead is because it will hopefully give the EBC clearer guidelines for the future about its power to extend the voting time by an hour in the interest of the democratic process due to bad weather conditions or other circumstances.
The fact that the UNC had agreed to the extension of the time when they got the news at their headquarters around 2:30pm on election day and sent out messages to its voters to take advantage of the extra hour should work against the UNC winning this case in claiming any disadvantage outside of their track record and performance over the past 5 years & 3 months.
In addition one of the UNC candidates in Point-a-Pierre also requested extra voting time to the EBC in writing due to two of the polling stations in his constituency not opening promptly at 6am.

I don't think the UNC can win the case of getting the election results nullified in those marginal constituencies unless they can clearly prove that the extra hour was to their voters’ disadvantage rather than advantage.

I believe what the UNC is trying to do here is similar to what they were trying to do with the failed "Run-off Bill" for the Marginal constituencies because they believe they have more spending power than PNM to be able to contest more than one election in a short space of time in these so-called marginal constituencies. What the UNC is not accounting for is that the general T&T electorate has decided that the UNC/PP blew their chance in power and couldn't wait to fire them from office. Going back again for By-Elections is likely to lead to even worse results for the UNC in these so-called marginal constituencies.

You hit it right on the head Soca.

Offline MEP

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1004 on: September 19, 2015, 09:04:19 PM »
by the time this go through appeals it will be 5 years and they will still lose again...

Offline Socapro

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No legal basis under Constitution for matter to succeed—Ramesh
« Reply #1005 on: September 20, 2015, 08:46:22 AM »
No legal basis under Constitution for matter to succeed—Ramesh
By Shaliza Hassanali (T&T Guardian)
Published: Sunday, September 20, 2015


Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj

Despite being granted leave by the High Court to challenge the election results of six United National Congress (UNC) seats, former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj is maintaining that there is “no legal basis” under the Constitution for this matter to succeed.

Yesterday, Maharaj spoke about Justice Mira Dean-Armorer’s decision, stating that even though leave was granted “the court can still dismiss it as an abuse of process.”

Maharaj said when a court grants leave, arguments are heard and detailed facts presented on both sides.

He said people were granted leave to either apply for judicial review or file an election petition.

“When the judge sees all the facts and listens to both sides, he could find there is no basis for it. One must always remember that under the Representation of the People Act, for an election petition to succeed, the person who files the petition must convince the court that the election results would have been different, if the impugned action did not occur.”

Maharaj said he had no doubt that “the court would rule against the UNC.”

Maharaj drew reference to a 2000 election petition filed by the PNM, arguing that the UNC’s Winston Peters and William Chaitan were citizens of the United States and Canada, respectively, when they filed their nominations papers to contest the general election.

“I was the attorney general at that time. I can tell the population that these election petitions would not succeed.”
« Last Edit: September 20, 2015, 08:51:09 AM by Socapro »
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Offline Socapro

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It’s up to the rule of law
« Reply #1006 on: September 20, 2015, 08:58:23 AM »
It’s up to the rule of law
Analysts weigh in on High Court’s decision on general election results in six seats...

By Shaliza Hassanali (T&T Guardian)
Published: Sunday, September 20, 2015


Political analyst Dr Indira Rampersad says Friday’s granting of leave by the High Court to the United National Congress (UNC) to challenge the results in six seats which it contested in the general election will set “a historical precedent in this country and the Caribbean.”

“I am not sure what will be the outcome of this case. It has to go through the court’s process,” Rampersad said yesterday. However, political analyst Maukesh Basdeo said, “It is really the interpretation of the law itself, whether the EBC had the powers to extend the voting time. The real determination is in the interpretation of the law. The EBC is making the claim that it had the right to do so.”
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Offline Socapro

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UNC’s fight for six seats will flop—Khan
« Reply #1007 on: September 20, 2015, 09:05:21 AM »
UNC’s fight for six seats will flop—Khan
By Rhonda Krystal Rambally (T&T Guardian)
Published: Sunday, September 20, 2015


PNM chairman & Minister of Rural Development
and Local Government, Franklin Khan


The People’s National Movement (PNM) says it is not unduly perturbed by the ruling on the general election by a High Court judge on Friday.

In fact, PNM chairman Franklin Khan said the party’s lawyers indicated that the UNC did not stand a chance of victory, “but it is the law.” He called it a “smokescreen.”

“What they are doing is challenging the victory of the PNM candidates.” He said the UNC was trying to avoid the radar about its internal troubles. Khan said, “You have a leader there who has lost five consecutive elections now...that is their story. We will focus on governing this country in a fair and equitable manner.”

Khan was responding to questions by the media after the PNM held its Eighth General Council meeting at Balisier House in Port-of-Spain, yesterday. He said, “You can go through the route of an election petition which they have been granted leave to so do.

Obviously, once due process has started, we have no comments to make. “It is largely a matter between the UNC and the EBC, whether they acted within their remit and their jurisdiction. “However, because the petition is specific to six constituencies, our MPs will be party to the petition.”

Ronald Huggins is new PNM PRO

Meanwhile, Ronald Huggins is now the PRO of the PNM. He has replaced Faris Al-Rawi, who resigned from the position. Huggins, who comes from the St Joseph constituency, will hold the post until the party’s election in the future.
« Last Edit: September 20, 2015, 09:11:25 AM by Socapro »
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Offline Socapro

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PNM expels Mayaro MP from party
« Reply #1008 on: September 20, 2015, 09:34:36 AM »
PNM expels Mayaro MP from party
By Camille Hunte (T&T Express)
Published on Sep 19, 2015, 9:29 pm AST


'Serious Party': PNM chairman Franklin Khan, right, announces the suspension of three party members during yesterday's media briefing while party general secretary Ashton Ford looks on. —Photo: CURTIS CHASE

THE People's National Movement (PNM) has officially expelled new United National Congress MP for Mayaro Rushton Paray from the PNM and has suspended three other PNM members.

And the PNM headquarters is set to get a much-needed facelift over the next year, according to PNM chairman Franklin Khan.

Briefing the media following the party's general council meeting yesterday, Khan said the party has established a building fund to aid in the reconstruction of Balisier House, which will be managed by a committee headed by PNM deputy political leader, policy Rohan Sinanan.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will be con­tributing his entire first month's salary to the fund, Khan announced.

Construction will begin in 2016 on a “more modern” office, Khan said, adding the PNM is the only party which owns its headquarters.

“We have pride as the only political party that has a home because everybody else is renting. I must go on record to say that the UNC is a tenant or a squatter at Rienzi Complex, which belongs to the All Trinidad General Workers' Trade Union.”

“We have Balisier House; it is in a semi-poor state because it is a very old, historical building.”

Balisier House, which is located on Tranquillity Street in Port of Spain, has been the home of the PNM since 1960 and has been showing signs of aging for some time.

Khan said though several designs were being considered, the historical architecture of the building would be preserved as much as possible. He could not say how much the rebuilding would cost.

Khan also announced that St Joseph community activist Ronald Huggins would serve as the party's public relations officer (PRO) since the resigna­tion of former PRO Faris Al-Rawi. Al-Rawi resigned from the position in order to focus on his new role as Attorney General.

Talk show host, activists suspended

Khan also announced yesterday that the general council of the PNM has taken a decision to suspend three of its members, pending investigations by the party's disciplinary committee.

Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against radio host Ricardo “Gladiator” Welch and activists Christine “Twiggy” Levia and Barry Garcia, all card-hol­ding members of the PNM.

Welch has been a member of the PNM since 1990, Garcia since 1992 and Levia since 1968.

Additionally, Rushton Paray, who won the Mayaro seat on a United National Congress (UNC) ticket, has been expelled from the party.

Paray became a mem­ber of the PNM on October 8, 2008.

“The party's consti­tu­tion is clear that if you are a card-holding member of the PNM and you contest an election against the party, that leads to automatic expulsion,” Khan said. “As we speak, he has been officially expelled from the PNM.”

Explaining the council's decision, Khan said it was in keeping with the constitution of the party.

“At the end of the day, we are a serious party that is governed by rules and regulations. Our longevity, 60 years as a premium political institution, is largely based on our robust internal proces­ses and procedures.

“We have survived this length of time because of the constitution of the PNM, which we adhere to religiously. Based on this, we saw it fit to initiate disciplina­ry action against these three people who transgressed beyond reason in their behaviour du­ring the conduct of the election campaign.”

Khan noted Levia's lengthy membership and said she had “thrown away her long legacy in the PNM”.
« Last Edit: September 20, 2015, 09:36:48 AM by Socapro »
De higher a monkey climbs is de less his ass is on de line, if he works for FIFA that is! ;-)

Offline Socapro

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PNM gets rid of four
« Reply #1009 on: September 20, 2015, 09:39:41 AM »
PNM gets rid of four
Sunday, September 20 2015 (T&T Newsday)


Two weeks after tasting victory in the September 7 general election, the People’s National Movement (PNM) yesterday moved to clean house as the party dispensed with four of its longstanding members, one of whom was immediately expelled while the others are before its disciplinary committee.

During the PNM’s general council meeting at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain — the first since its 23-18 win over the People’s Partnership coalition — the party also scoffed at the United National Congress’ court petition challenging the election results and in the same breath, announced long-awaited plans to begin the reconstruction of Balisier House next year.

Expelled from the PNM’s fold with immediate effect yesterday was Mayaro MP Rushton Paray, a card-holding member of the party, who contested the marginal seat on a UNC ticket in the general election.

Paray won the seat over the PNM’s candidate, attorney Clarence Rambharat, who has since been appointed Minister of Agriculture in the new Dr Keith Rowley-led administration.

PNM Chairman Franklin Khan said the party’s constitution was clear on members who contested elections against the party.

“The party’s constitution is clear that if you are a card-holding member of the PNM and you contest an election against the party, that leads to automatic expulsion, so the automatic expulsion was initiated on Mr Rushton Paray. He is now the Member of Parliament for Mayaro and he was a card-holding member of the PNM,” Khan told reporters at the post general council news briefing.

Khan presented documents which showed that Paray, a businessman and president of the Mayaro Chamber of Commerce, was admitted to the PNM on October 8, 2008.

“So, as we speak he has been officially expelled from the People’s National Movement,” he added.

Disciplinary proceedings, Khan announced, also have been launched against three other PNMites — controversial radio talk show host Ricardo Welch, otherwise known as the Gladiator, one-time PNM activist and vocal supporter Christine “Twiggy” Levia and member Barry Garcia. The latter had openly supported Pennelope Beckles-Robinson for leadership of the party.

“Whereas Mr Paray was led to automatic expulsion, the others we have to initiate disciplinary proceedings as per the constitution and the constitution indicates that any member whose conduct is in the question of the general council inimical to the interests of the movement shall be liable to disciplinary action as the general council may determine so disciplinary proceedings were initiated today against three members of the PNM,” he said, naming Welch, Levia and Garcia as the members, who were now before the investigative arm of the disciplinary committee.

Khan said Welch joined the PNM in 1990 while Levia and Garcia were accepted into the party’s fold on January 1, 1968 and April 13, 1982, respectively.

The PNM chairman said the trio were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation after they “transgressed beyond reason during the conduct of the election.” He said: “At the end of the day, we are a serious party, one that is governed by rules and regulations. Our longevity, 60 years as a premium political institution, is largely based on our robust internal processes. We have survived this length of time because of the processes of the People’s National Movement which we adhere to religiously and based on this, we saw it fit to initiate disciplinary action on these three people.” During the briefing, Khan also responded to the Justice Dean Mira Dean Armorer’s ruling in the High Court on Friday, which gave the greenlight to the UNC to proceed with its legal challenge of the general election results.

The UNC is seeking to have the results overturned on grounds that the Elections and Boundaries Commission’s (EBC’s) decision to extend the voting time in Trinidad by one hour was illegal.

Khan said the UNC was free to challenge the general election result.

“There is due process in Trinidad and Tobago. They have gone the route of an election petition which they have been granted leave to so do,” he said.

“Obviously, once due process has started we have no comment to make. It is largely a matter between the EBC and the UNC, on whether the EBC acted within their remit and jurisdiction.” Khan said the PNM’s candidates, who contested the six marginal constituencies in question, were party to the petition.

“Our lawyers have indicated that they do not stand the ghost of a chance of victory but it is law and due process has to take place. We are not overly perturbed by that
« Last Edit: September 20, 2015, 09:44:07 AM by Socapro »
De higher a monkey climbs is de less his ass is on de line, if he works for FIFA that is! ;-)

Offline Bakes

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1010 on: September 23, 2015, 12:45:27 PM »
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/mzm1sVwAXIc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/mzm1sVwAXIc</a>

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1011 on: September 23, 2015, 01:09:54 PM »
wicked wicked

Offline pull stones

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1012 on: September 23, 2015, 02:29:16 PM »
who is the speaker of the house?

Offline Sando prince

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1013 on: September 23, 2015, 02:31:29 PM »
who is the speaker of the house?

do a simple search

Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1014 on: September 23, 2015, 03:17:07 PM »
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/mzm1sVwAXIc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/mzm1sVwAXIc</a>

Wow... Just wow. He really captured the last 5 years in 5 minutes.
This reminds me of the yearly "Rap up" that Mad Skillz does..


« Last Edit: September 23, 2015, 03:22:24 PM by gawd on pitch »

Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1015 on: September 23, 2015, 03:22:07 PM »
I forget this is the guy who does the Carnival one
 

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1016 on: September 23, 2015, 05:40:38 PM »
Good stuff!

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Al-Rawi served with election petition at funeral service
« Reply #1017 on: September 28, 2015, 04:52:28 PM »
Al-Rawi served with election petition at funeral service
By Radhica Sookraj (T&T Newsday)
Published: Sunday, September 27, 2015


Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi greets Yvonne Mahabir at the funeral service of her husband Errol Mahabir at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Harris Promenade, San Fernando, on Friday:
PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA


In what has been described as gross disrespect to the dead, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was served an election petition while attending the funeral service of PNM stalwart Errol Mahabir on Friday.

Al-Rawi, who expressed displeasure at the manner in which the petition was served, said he was shocked when a man walked up to him and thrust the document in his face.

He said he was in the middle of expressing his condolences to Yvonne Mahabir, the widow of the late former PNM deputy political leader and minister of petroleum and mines in the cabinet of Dr Eric Williams, when the process server came holding the document. He informed Al-Rawi that he had a document to serve concerning an Elections and Boundaries Commission matter.

Al-Rawi said he told the man that he was in a church. He explained he was a public officer and he was not in hiding so he did not understand why he had to be served this document at the funeral service.

However, Al-Rawi said, the man informed him he had to immediately serve the document, which was the election petition by the United National Congress with respect to San Fernando West.

Advising the man to wait for an appropriate time to serve the document, Al-Rawi said he was utterly amazed when the process server threw the document at his feet and left saying, “You are now served.”

Saying he was disturbed that the man would show such gross disrespect at a funeral service, Al-Rawi said he was never more surprised by the man’s behaviour. He said in all his years of practice in litigation matters, he has never witnessed such an incident, especially in the middle of a funeral.

The AG revealed that following the funeral service he contacted former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, Gerald Ramdeen and Kelvin Ramkissoon. All of them were listed as lawyers in the election petition. However, both Ramlogan and Ramdeen claimed they were unaware that the petition was served at the funeral. Both men denied giving any instruction to serve the document at the funeral. Al-Rawi said he also contacted Ramkissoon who expressed surprise that his name was listed on the election petition.

Ramkissoon also denied giving any instruction for the document to be given at a funeral, Al-Rawi added.

The AG said while he accepted that members of the UNC were anxious to serve the election petition, he was certain that the people of T&T would appreciate more decorum and class in conducting the affairs of political parties.

He also said that several members of the UNC, including deputy political leader Dr Roodal Moonilal, were present at the funeral when the document was served.

Moonilal: I know nothing about that.

In a text message last night, Moonilal denied knowledge of the incident. He wrote, “I know nothing about that at all.” He said, “Al-Rawi approached me after a very meaningful service for a dear friend and mentor Errol Mahabir and I told him this is not the time or the place. I then brushed past him.”

Sturge: Document was served after formal part of proceedings

Meanwhile, attorney Wayne Sturge told CNC3 last night that it was difficult to serve Al-Rawi with the document because of his security detail. Sturge added that the document was served after the formal part of the funeral proceedings had ended. Saying the man who served the petition was not directed as to how to serve the document, Sturge explained that it was up to the man to use his discretion. He noted that the document could not be served in court or in Parliament.

Sturge also said that there was a timeframe for the election petition to be served, noting that it had been difficult to serve the document. He said after the High Court granted leave to file the petition, lawyers representing the PNM were asked if they would accept service of the petition, instead of having the petitioner personally served, and they declined.

Sturge said the UNC had to employ the services of a process service. He noted that the Toco/Sangre Grande MP Glenda Jennings-Smith, Moruga/Tableland MP Lovell Francis and La Horquetta/Talparo MP Maxie Cuffie were served on Thursday.

St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh and Tunapuna MP Esmond Forde are yet to be served.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2015, 04:54:39 PM by Socapro »
De higher a monkey climbs is de less his ass is on de line, if he works for FIFA that is! ;-)

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1018 on: September 28, 2015, 05:10:25 PM »
who is the speaker of the house?

Bridgette Annisette-George
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline Deeks

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Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« Reply #1019 on: September 28, 2015, 05:36:35 PM »
who is the speaker of the house?

Bridgette Annisette-George

I do hope she doh bust a Mark in the parliament.

 

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