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Corbin retains leadership amidst controversial elections

Aug 23, 2009 News

The second day of the 16th Biennial Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform yesterday was permeated with confusion from start to end, but at the conclusion, Robert Corbin was returned at the helm of the party despite the controversy that surrounded the proceedings.

Out of a delegate list of 1175, Corbin received 614 votes while substantive challenger, Winston Murray, received 223 votes, much to the dismay of the latter’s supporters, who voiced their displeasure in what they called a fraudulent process.

At the beginning of yesterday’s session, anarchy was the order of the day, as many delegates who turned up to collect their cards to secure a place to vote for office bearers and central executive members were turned back, because their names were not on the list.

One man told this newspaper, “I travel till from Region Nine and I still can’t get me card fuh go and vote…man Corbin had he time I come fuh vote for Murray.”

Meanwhile, others were seemingly extremely lucky in that they were presented with cards bearing names of other persons, with one case that this newspaper came across where the name on the card was that of a man that died some time ago.

The card bearer gave his correct name to the registration officers, and after being refused, made a call and was presented with a card bearing the dead man’s name and was then promptly told, “Your name is (name provided).”

The roll call commenced and scores of supposed delegates milled around in the compound and the elections finally got underway, at first smoothly, but quickly broke into pandemonium, with a scuffle between several persons at one point in time.

Media operatives were not allowed into the auditorium of Congress Place as the elections or plenaries were taking place but most, if not all of the delegates that left, including parliamentarians, were disgruntled.

A point to note is that Member of Parliament, Judith Blair, never made her way into the auditorium to cast her vote, a regional vice-chairman who is supposed to be an automatic delegate was also not granted access, given that their names were not found on the list.

Union Leader, Gillian Burton, an automatic delegate, who also was not found on the list was allowed access to the venue as a special invitee at the opening, and at yesterday’s session was handed a delegate card for an Agricola group for which she was not a member.

During the pandemonium that broke out during the actual election process, brought on by scores of allegations of persons voting more than once and in some cases allegations of as many as five times.

When the winner was announced there were massive cheers by Corbin supporters whilst Murray bowed out graciously, saying that he did not want to be a sore loser, but lamented the many flaws in the electoral process.

He said that at present he was still a member of the party and a Member of Parliament but will have to contemplate his political future. (More details in tomorrow’s edition)

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