-rejects multiple voting claims
Re-elected People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) leader Robert Corbin says multiple voting could not have been possible during polls at the party’s recent Biennial Congress, noting that delegates were allowed to make their own observations and objections every step of the way.
The just concluded-congress was tainted with complaints of irregularities prior to its start but, according to Corbin, while new procedures created bottlenecks all concerns were adequately addressed. He added that if persons wanted to continue to find fault with the process, they would be doing so to satisfy their own agenda.
Corbin was re-elected leader of the party for a third consecutive term last weekend, defeating his sole challenger Winston Murray, who accepted the results given the wide margin of victory, though he did note flaws in the process and irregularities in procedures. Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, who bowed out of the leadership race to support Murray’s candidacy, had expressed concern that the membership register was padded and that the absence of the use of a photo ID during the registration and seating of delegates. There were numerous claims of disenfranchisement during and after registration for delegates, while there were also claims of multiple voting.
As a participant in the process as well as a candidate, Corbin told Stabroek News on Tuesday that he could not see how multiple voting was possible since both leadership candidates had scrutineers. He said he had only one, while Murray had seven. “The delegates themselves were making their own observation and objections along the way which shows that the process was open and transparent,” he declared. He said nothing was done in secret–from the roll call to the casting of votes and the counting of votes. The latter, he said, was done on the stage of the auditorium in full view of all.
However, Corbin noted that prior to the commencement of the elections, Returning Officer Joseph Harmon held a meeting with both candidates in the presence of their scrutineers and General Secretary Oscar Clarke. He explained that both candidates raised issues, some of which were addressed. He added that there were still a few outstanding matters. He mentioned the case of a group of about 20 persons who were not accredited and no one could say whether they would have voted. He said at that stage, it was agreed that registration would be closed and the election would begin. Corbin also noted that there were some persons who spoke of their names not being on the list.
‘Bottlenecks’
Corbin admitted that there were a few “bottlenecks” in the registration, which he blamed on the elaborate demands of those who wanted a new system and processes not used in the history of the party. To suggest that this bottleneck in registration of unsubstantiated claims amount to irregularities and fraud, he, however, added, is a stretch of the imagination, particularly for anyone knowledgeable of the procedures for the holding of the election. Nevertheless, he said he is awaiting the report of the Returning Officer, who was responsible for managing the polls as well as the independent observers who were identified to observe and oversee the process.
Meanwhile, Corbin emphasised that he is concentrating on the task of building a united party that is re-energised and mobilised to deal with the problems affecting the people.