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PNC hijacked by illegal processes, personal agendas
…worst electoral fraud in party’s history – Van West camp
“Once again our Party has been hijacked through an illegal process by personal agendas. This debacle has damaged the image of our Party. We will not stand idly by and allow our Party to degrade over time because of reckless adventurism by a few.”
This is according to a statement by the Dr Richard Van West Charles camp yesterday, in response to re-elected Leader of the Peoples National Congress Reform, Robert Corbin, who as reported in the media said that; Multiple voting was not possible since both Leadership candidates had scrutineers.
Corbin also stated that delegates themselves were making observations and objections which showed that the process was open and transparent.
One of the registration booths at the PNCR’s 16th Biennial Congress
Bottlenecks in the registration were due to elaborate demands of those who wanted a new system and processes not used in the history of the Party among others, Corbin had claimed.
It was pointed out that the statements, coming after the exposure of a plethora of irregularities in the membership application, registration and voting processes, is an attempt to taunt and gloat.
“This is an exhibition of a cavalier attitude as the Party’s image is seriously damaged by the worst electoral fraud in its history,” a statement from the Van West Charles camp said.
According to the statement, several matters were not dealt with on a bipartisan level.
Among the issues raised were; Restricted access to membership application forms for persons perceived as not supporting the incumbent Party Leader; massive padding and falsification of party membership; official efforts to cover up corruption in the membership process; access to the membership register; access to the list of delegates in good time and the use of acceptable photo ID’s for the voting process.
The Van West Charles camp pointed out that at the Congress, it objected to the distribution of wads of delegate cards by supporters of Mr. Corbin, who in turn were giving the cards to ineligible persons.
“Our strenuous objections did not deter these persons, who were operating with impunity.”
It was pointed out that in one instance a newly elected Central Executive Member from Canada was caught red-handed with a bag full of delegate cards and accreditation officials refused to confiscate the cards.
“We wish to place on the public record that there was a breakdown of the voting process. The Returning Officer lost control of the process and did not even establish the number of delegates present and entitled to vote. There was no effort by the Returning Officer to ensure a meticulous check of delegates entering the hall. The roll call of delegates was so fast that it resulted in mass entrance into the hall. A number of persons not entitled to vote used this confusion to enter the hall also.”
It was pointed out that accredited scrutineers were prevented from monitoring the roll call and entrance of delegates into the voting arena by Corbin’s aides.
The Van West Charles Camp also said that they are aware that scores of persons from Sophia were bused in to vote as delegates for another region.
“We also noted that the physical arrangements established for voting was not designed to prevent multiple voting, hence, we affirm that there was massive multiple voting. A number of prominent members of the newly elected executive were integrally involved in multiple voting. We therefore reject Mr. Corbin’s assertion that the electoral process was transparent.”
A full report is being prepared for submission to the Party’s Secretariat and it will also be available to all Party members.
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