SHARLENE RAMPERSAD
sharlene.rampersad@guardian.co.tt
There was a slow but steady stream of voters in the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC) and the Arima Borough Corporation districts today.
While People's National Movement (PNM) candidates in both districts reported incident-free and smooth voting processes, their opponents had many complaints.
United National Congress (UNC) candidate for Blanchisseuse/Santa Rosa Marilyn Martin said many of the constituents in her district were being turned away at polling stations and told their names were not on the list of registered voters.
"People said they were told their names not on the lists and it's only when they make noise, then they are being taken into a room and their names magically appear on a list," Martin said.
She said her office had attorneys who visited the two polling stations—the Mount Zion Spiritual Baptist Church and the Santa Rosa Government Primary—earlier in the day to "sort out" the issues.
When she spoke to Guardian Media around 3 pm, Martin said they were still dealing with the same issue at the Mount Zion Church. When Guardian Media visited the polling station shortly after, voters did not report any irregularities.
Husband and wife Phillip and Theodora Borneo said they were both finished voting less than five minutes after they arrived at the church.
Other voters, who did not want to give their names, also reported a smooth, quick voting process.
Guardian Media also spoke to voters at Lakshmi Girls' Hindu College, the Dinsley Trinicity Government Primary School, the Malabar RC School, the Santa Rosa Government Primary School and the Bethel World Outreach Centre in Arima.
Outgoing chairman of the TPRC Paul Leacock said he voted at the Dinsley Trincity Primary School by 8.30 am. Leacock said he had no issues and the process was without incident.
He commended the Elections and Boundaries Commission for making accommodations at the school for voters using wheelchairs.
Leacock said two makeshift ramps were constructed and because of this, he was able to take his twin sister, who uses a wheelchair, to cast her vote.