UNC elections committee answers Jack's questions

The Chairman of the Internal Elections Committee of the United National Congress (UNC) has written to Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner in response to a letter from Warner concerning changes to the appointment of election supervisors for the vote on January 24, 2010.

Warner wrote Kemchan Ramdath Sunday complaining about changes that he felt were discriminatory. In particular Warner asked why only five constituencies, including his own, were singled out for treatment different from the others.

Read the story: Jack complains about irregularities in naming UNC election officials

In a reply sent to Warner Monday, Ramdath said persons recommended for and appointed to the positions of Elections Supervisors were shifted around in all constituencies not just five. He said no one was appointed as Election Supervisor in the constituency of the MP making the recommendation.

He also said the Elections Committee has decided that a person who is appointed as Elections Supervisor must not canvass for a candidate for the elections.

With respect to Warner's other concerns, Ramdath wrote:

"You recommended Mr Rishi Budhram and Mr Sahadeo Kangal (not Mr Brian Kangal) for the positions of Elections Supervisor. By e mail to me dated 18 December, 2009 you recommended. Mr Brian Kangal for the position of Presiding Officer and he will be considered for this position when appointments are being made.

"Mr Budhram was sent letters dated 10 December 2009 informing him that he was appointed Elections Supervisor for Caroni East and inviting him to a meeting on the 19th December,2009, which he attended.

"At the end of the meeting he told me that he was unable to accept the position. The Internal Elections Committee met afterwards and appointed your other nominee, Mr Sahadeo Kangal, in his place.

"Recommendations were sought for the positions of Elections Supervisors only from Members of Parliament, Shadow MPs and Regional Coordinators. Recommendations were received from all UNC MPs from the House of Representatives, three Regional Coordinators, one UNC Senator, and one Shadow MP.

"A total of 62 recommendations were received.They were all duly considered. It was not possible to appoint all 62 persons as Elections Supervisors as the Committee was of the view, formed after considering the situation existing at the time, that only 28 Election Supervisors should be appointed in the first instance."