Dear Editor,
In view of the conflicting reports circulated about the results of the polling for the selection of the PNCR’s presidential candidature on Saturday 26th February, 2011, it may be useful for the public to be advised of what actually took place.
It should be noted that apart from delegates having to enter four polling booths to make their marks on the ballots provided, all other aspects of the poll were conducted in full view of the packed auditorium of delegates, observers, scrutineers, photographers, and the candidates themselves.
In their presence each of the six hundred and sixty-six ballots was placed in the bin identified for the respective candidates, only after being displayed to all the scrutineers.
It was noticeable that as the names were loudly called out some of the scrutineers were making their own tallies – obviously before the official count had started.
When the latter procedure was in fact completed the five candidates were invited to the stage by the Returning Officer, who advised them of the individual results, and enquired of their view of having a recount, particularly in light of the apparent close votes between the two high scoring candidates. The majority decision was that there should be such a recount in respect of those two candidates only. This single recount was effected under the scrutiny of their representatives who together confirmed the original results as subsequently reported.
It was only then that a public announcement was made around 19:00 hours to the waiting delegates of the official results. It would appear that an earlier report may have emerged from those scrutineers who had done their own tallying; but it is relevant to state that there was never a controversy about the announced results.
Most grateful if your medium will be good enough to publish the above statement.
Yours faithfully,
E. B. John
for S. V. Jones Associates
Returning Officer
