EBC: All in place for January 21 THA polls

CORRECTION: This story, which originally appeared on page A3 on January 16, 2013, misreported the findings of a poll conducted by Solution by Simulation. The poll did suggest that the incumbent PNM would score  an 11 to 1 victory in next week's THA election. In the case of the remaining one seat, however, the finding was that it would be a statistical tie. Our apologies for the error.

Acting chief election officer Ramesh Nanan says all measures are in place for a successful conduct of next Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly election.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday Nanan said there were daily requirements to be put in place on specific days and those were being implemented on schedule. 

Those measures, he added, included getting certain documents and other materials in place at specific times. He said all systems were “go” for the conduct of a successful THA election.

He said 46,607 electors were registered to vote, an increase of 3,984 from the 2009 election.

Nanan said 530 polling-day workers have been trained to ensure the exercise took place fairly and freely at 97 polling stations in 67 polling divisions.

Three parties—the People’s National Movement (PNM), the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) and the Platform for Truth (PFT)—have each nominated 12 candidates to contest the 12 electoral districts. 

A poll conducted last week by the firm, Solution by Simulation, suggested the incumbent PNM, led by chief secretary Orville London, would score a landslide 11 to 1 victory, and TOP leader Ashworth Jack may lose his electoral district of Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah.

The pollsters said TOP was expected to win the other seat,  although TOP leader Ashworth Jack may lose his electoral district of Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah.

Nanan said all those registered to vote would be allowed to vote as long as their names were on the list of electors.

The electoral ink, security and other polling-day requirements would be in place, he said. 

“As at today’s date, we at the EBC are on track with all that we have to do for Monday’s election,” he added.

He said the EBC’s registration office in Scarborough was a critical centre for running the election.
The EBC said the election was expected to cost about $3 million.