Concerns over changes to the electoral process of the People's National Movement (PNM) are being raised by former Minister of Finance under the second Manning Administration, Karen Nunez-Tesheira, who intends to contest the post of Political Leader in the party's upcoming internal elections.
In a letter addressed to Chairman of the PNM Elections Supervisory Committee, Anthony Roberts, the Political Leader hopeful has red-flagged plans to have voting in the party's elections take place over a three-day period—November 26 and 27 and December 4, 2022.
Describing the change as “a matter of grave concern”, Mrs Nunez-Tesheira, an attorney-at-law, seeks clarification on security arrangements for early ballots, and the counting process for all ballots eventually cast.
She also raises the issue of registration of qualified voters, and criteria determining who should be a voter.
The following is the full text of the letter written by Karen Nunez-Tesheira to the PNM Elections Supervisory Committee…
“I write an open letter to you as one of the main persons responsible for the conduct of the voting process of the People’s National Movement’s internal elections.
Firstly, it is a matter of grave concern, as it is my understanding that the voting by qualified registrants is to be conducted in two days—November 26 and 27th and a final date almost a week later on the date of National Executive Elections on December 4th. This in effect amounts to nine days, as the counting of the votes cast will not occur until the final day set aside for voting, as I understand it.
While there is no expressed bye-law or rule stating that the voting process should be completed in one day, it has been the practice and custom from the very inception of the party that the voting would be so completed and votes immediately counted in the presence of appointed representatives. Further, when one considers that only one day is set aside for voting by hundreds of thousands of citizens in the general elections, as is the norm elsewhere, this new process becomes even more baffling. Indeed, I expect that there is a sound reason for adopting a one-day voting process, which the Elections and Boundaries Commission can shed light as to its rationale.
One, therefore, cannot help but question the reasoning for this significant change, adding as it does, a layer of unnecessary complexity to the process, and more particularly, an opportunity for ill-intentioned persons to tamper with the boxes during what amounts to be a nine-day hiatus.
This leads to my second question, what arrangements are in place to secure the storage of the boxes during the one-week interval to December 4th, so as to ensure that there is no opportunity for tampering with the boxes, an exercise which again adds an extra layer of unnecessary complexity and leaves opportunity for the integrity of the electoral process to be compromised.
Another query of immense importance is the requirement regarding new registrants who wish to cast their votes in the upcoming internal elections. I was told it was three months, but I sought confirmation from one of the senior officers at Baliser House responsible for the voting process. It appears that there is no time frame involved. Instead, I was advised new applications are sent to Baliser House, where the decision is made as to who qualifies as a registrant, for the purpose of being added to the final list of voters; that the process takes some time and is not completed until the final list is published by Baliser House.
I was not advised as to the guidelines, if any, that are applied but, in its absence, the process seems intrinsically flawed and lacking in the basic tenets of transparency and objectivity. As a member of this esteemed party, this final settling of the list particularly regarding new registrants unnecessarily facilitates a form of cherry-picking which can only lead to speculations as to the very integrity of this important aspect of the process.
Finally, what is the most worrisome aspect of this entire process is the lack of communication and/or timely communication as to the electoral requirements, including the availability and locations of the requisite forms and the publication of clear and settled guidelines for new registrants participating in this current internal election.
I therefore respectfully call upon the party executive to revert to its time-honoured electoral process of one day of voting and that the relevant voting information be communicated and published in a timely and easily accessible manner.
I look forward to your published response to these queries which can only be beneficial to the PNM party’s well-earned reputation of adherence to structure and observance of its rules as contained in its constitution and bye-laws.
I thank you.”