Minister of Public Utilities Colm Imbert has assured that all polling cards via the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation were, in fact, delivered.
As the Line Minister for TTPost, he gave the assurance after voting in Maraval on Monday morning.
“TTPost reports to me, at least until midnight tonight, so that on Friday we began to get reports of people not receiving their poll cards. We got all of ours in my house a week ago. So I checked with TTPost, and they were still delivering up to Saturday night, but I got a report from them yesterday that they had delivered every single poll card.”
Voting at the Crystal Stream Government Primary, David Lee from the United National Congress (UNC) said he was concerned that the longer process may turn potential voters away.
“I didn’t get one this time; all the years I’ve gotten polling cards, so they have to actually write up a polling card for you, so that process is taking a lil time.”
But Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister – Communications, Symon de Nobriga, who voted at the same polling station, said he didn’t have the same experience.
“Once you’re on the list, all you need to have is your ID card and any form of identification, not just your ID card, and you will be taken care of at the polling station. It wasn’t my experience there; however, I saw people moving through quite easily.”
While Political Leader of the National Transformation Alliance, Gary Griffith, commended all parties for a “clean” election campaign, he said there was a report of canvassing on social media on Monday morning.
“There’s somebody who’s an Alderman; he holds a position in this country as it pertains to governance, and he is on social media promoting one party or trying to tell people not to vote for a party. That is against the law; he should be arrested this morning. We would be reporting it to the police. This has to stop.”
The People’s National Movement’s Campaign Manager and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said by all indications, it has been a free and fair election.
“Once we operate within the law, which we have always done, give and take some exceptions, but I’m hoping that if there are people who work outside the law, that’s where we have law enforcement for.”
Health Minister and the PNM’s candidate for Aranguez/St. Joseph, Terrence Deyalsingh, said he was confident of retaining the seat.
“If the majority of the people, as we said during the campaign, act responsibly, we will win .”
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said despite a short election season, he felt ‘inspired’ by the message of his party.
“I complimented my colleagues today, my team, for getting our messages through. I think there was a focus on message, there was great passion, particularly from our new Prime Minister.”
And Political Leader of the Movement for National Development, Garvin Nicholas, who is contesting the Diego Martin North/East seat, said he’s contented with his campaign.
“The reception that I got from the people was excellent. It reminded me of 2010 when I came within 424 votes of beating him.”
But his competitor, Colm Imbert, had different ideas: “I have no opposition in this seat, I could tell you. I have five opponents; I met one of them for 5 minutes; I didn’t see the other four. Three of them can’t even vote in Diego Martin North/East.”