Trinidad & Tobago’s Express newspaper reported on Friday that an imminent legal battle could result in the People’s National Movement (PNM) having to postpone its internal elections, set for May 18.
According to the newspaper, the team representing aspiring PNM leader Pennelope Beckles Robinson argued on Thursday that the election process was being manipulated to the benefit of incumbent leader Dr Keith Rowley and was far from being free and fair.
Member of Parliament for Laventille West Nileung Hypolite, the logistics co-ordinator for the Beckles Robinson team, reportedly told the Express Beckles Robinson’s team would not stand by and watch the democratic process thwarted, “in the interest of a few, self-serving persons.”
In an interview at a private residence in Valsayn yesterday, Hypolite produced several documents, purporting to show how the process was being influenced unfairly.
He reportedly claimed that approximately 7,000 applicants for the right to vote in the internal election, signed on during a registration drive were rejected because they were perceived to be supporters of Beckles Robinson, their names were rejected.
“The PNM cannot be seen as an all-inclusive party when they are rejecting 7,000 persons,” said Hypolite.
Hypolite said he and the team will be encouraging the 7,000-plus members to write to the elections committee, querying their rejection.
He said an official letter from the Beckles Robinson team will be dispatched, on behalf of the applicants they had received money from and submitted forms.
Referring to an injunction filed on Thursday, which stopped the elections for the Medical Practitioners Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MPATT), Hypolite said “that may very well be the way we will be heading”.
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