The United National Congress is voicing its objection to what it has described as the unilateral imposition of a pilot project by the Elections and Boundaries Commission days before the THA elections on December 06th.
Opposition Senator Wade mark is asking Mark Ramkerrysingh the Chairman of the EBC to withdraw the notice. Mark said neither the EBC nor its chairman has such powers.
The proposal involves the EBC using new technologies in gathering data in all polling stations in the THA election digitally in parallel to the traditional manual methods of gathering data during the conduct of the THA election. The initiative will see the use of electronic technologies in identifying voters present and those who have voted, by specially designated EBC data entry clerks on Election Day.
Senator Mark suggested that the UNC was never consulted, and the imposition of the initiative should be withdrawn. Mark said the EBC has not consulted with any of the stakeholders to his knowledge and that should be condemned. He said the EBC should immediately cease and desist and withdraw the pilot project before the upcoming THA election, unless the EBC wants to be seen as a stooge of the PNM.
Senator suggested that the EBC cannot arbitrarily change the rules without consultation on the eve of a hotly contested election. Any change he said should have been proposed before nomination day, and this approach by the EBC according to Mark was in contravention to the laws of natural justice.
COMMENTS