People's National Movement (PNM) leader Dr Keith Rowley says yesterday's St Joseph by-election victory margin of several hundred votes was a big accomplishment for the party in the constituency.Describing the win for candidate Terrance Deyalsingh as "poetic justice," Rowley told supporters that even in the face of community projects, cash and phone distribution by some parties in order to buy votes, the PNM proved victorious.Deyalsingh joined Rowley, party public relations officer Faris Al-Rawi and party chairman Franklin Khan to address the media after the win at the PNM's office on Old Mt Hope Road, St Joseph."Tonight we are particularly happy to have won this St Joseph seat. We have tried on a number of occasions and have been unsuccessful," Rowley said.
This victory, Rowley said, was hard won, as the constituency was not a PNM stronghold. But the jubilation of the win was tempered by several issues which Rowley said would be referred to the authorities, including the Integrity Commission."This Government has thrown every single thing at its opponents in this election. The Government has misbehaved once again, they have broken the law and has disgraced itself," he said.He questioned why the Government went into the Ministry of Finance and handed out money over the weekend to people purported to have been affected by floods in the Aranjuez area."We can't recall when that flooding took place in Aranjuez and why it wasn't dealt with before. That has to be wrong," Rowley said. "It has been the most vulgar action by any government."
Rowley called for a "proper investigation" into that matter and said he planned to write to the Integrity Commission on it.He also reiterated his call for the Prime Minister to call a general election.Deyalsingh said coming off the win he planned to continue the 25 projects started by the Government pick, Ian Alleyne. He said he was also going to request cellphone numbers for the government ministers to continue the jobs."Apparently it is easy to get things done now, you just have to call a number. I want all their cell numbers to get things done," he said, referring to Alleyne's ability to mediate between government agencies in order to get projects started in the area.Rowley also raised questions about Alleyne's eligibility to vote in this election, and called on the Elections and Boundaries Commission to investigate.