United National Congress MP Barry Padarath has again raised questions about whether Election and Boundaries Commission Chief Election Officer Fern Narcis-Scope is a relative of a People's National Movement MP.
Padarath raised the issue during Monday's Standing Finance Committee's examination of expenditure in the 2019/2020 Budget in Parliament.
Addressing the committee during the session, Padarath, the Princes Town MP, asked, "Under personal expenditure, could the honourable minister indicate whether or not this reflects the salary of the chief elections officer and how is this person selected for this position and whether or not the incumbent is a relative of a member of the PNM sitting in this house today."
House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George rose to indicate to Padarath that she would not allow the question.
"I allowed you to make that statement, I am not going to allow that question," said the House Speaker, even as Minister of Finance Colm Imbert responded that it was "an illegitimate question."
However, Padarath retorted loudly that he felt the question was valid given the EBC was being addressed by the Standing Finance Committee.
This prompted Annisette-George to indicate to him that he could remonstrate outside if he wished but that she would not allow him to continue with his line of questioning.
The UNC had raised the issue of Narcis-Scope's tenure last year, with Opposition Senator Wade Mark calling for her removal in the Senate in May 2018 to preserve the independence of the elections governing body.
Mark alleged then that Narcis-Scope was the first cousin of Maxie Cuffie, the La Horquetta/Talparo MP. However, the EBC subsequently denied this allegation.
Narcis-Scope's appointment to the position in 2017 has been mired in controversy and was challenged by EBC deputy chief elections officer Lena Sahadeo when it was made. Sahadeo had noted then that with over 24 years' experience, she believed she was more qualified and experienced for the post and Narcis was her junior.
The UNC also earlier raised their concerns about the EBC's registration process.
“That verification programme that we are entrusting to the EBC, would these officers who are on overtime be a part of that process of verification?” asked Dr Tim Gopeesingh, who, upon receiving a response of yes from Imbert, followed with another question.
“Bearing in mind the election is on December 2, when is it going to be completed?”
Imbert responded, “You are very well aware that the President issues the writ of elections in accordance with the Representation of the People Act that there is a period of electoral registration which can only take place after the writ is issue. The writ was only addressed within the last day or two and therefore electoral registration will begin shortly. It must be completed statutorily by a prescribed period before polling day.”
Imbert later dismissed other questions from Dr Roodal Moonilal and Fazal Karim over when the EBC would respond to the UNC’s query, as he said it was not relevant to the business of the committee.
“That is not a matter for the Finance Committee. The EBC is an independent institution...don’t try that,” Imbert said.
In a release yesterday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar also said the UNC will be seeking a meeting with EBC officials to discuss what she called inconsistencies and anomalies in several constituencies.
In one of two statements issued yesterday, she said after conducting “a house to house examination of the list of registered voters in each constituency to physically meet each voter,” the UNC found, “1,684 inconsistencies and anomalies within the St Joseph, Tunapuna, Moruga/Tableland and La Horquetta/Talparo constituencies.”
The areas listed have been considered marginal seats.
The UNC said it submitted comprehensive reports highlighting the discrepancies to the EBC on October 4, yet up to yesterday, the party had not received any response from the Commission. As a result, the UNC is requesting “a meeting with the EBC to deal with this and other issues.”
Last Friday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced as December 2 as the date for the Local Government elections.