BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TEAM UNITY Leader the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris is reporting that information he has received indicates that some form of “voter fraud” has been taking place today (Feb. 14); the day designated for essential services personnel to vote early.
Essential workers such as police officers, nurses, fire officers and soldiers have the option of casting their ballot today rather than waiting until Monday (Feb. 16) when the rest of the Federation would vote.
In an interview with SKNVibes, Dr. Harris explained that the alleged voter fraud or irregularities are taking place in Constituency Number Four.
“We are having some voter fraud at Number Four, down at Old Road. Basically, the information made available is that a number of persons not on the List as early voters have been allowed to vote in that particular constituency without showing any identification and against the objections of the Team Unity agents of that area.
“I had been verily advised by our agents there that they have uncovered significant instances of voter fraud in the Old Road polling division. That is at the centre for voting in Old Road and specifically it has been reported the List provided by the Returning Officers which should be available, and that indicates everyone who has accepted to vote, have been approved to vote via the early-voting mechanism.”
He said in order for persons not named on the Voters’ List for today to cast their ballot, certain procedures would have to be undertaken. He claimed that these are not being undertaken.
“You would recall that only certain categories of persons qualify under that, so there has to be a list…Persons who are not on that list ought not to be voting and if they are, there are certain requirements in terms of taking an oath etc., which ought to have happened and that is not taking place. That is the report that I have had.”
Giving a report on the progress of early voting in Constituency Number Six, Dr. Harris informed that some challenges are also being faced there.
“They have had issues in Number Six. There was a change of the venue where the early voting should have taken place and…no information, I gathered, was communicated to our candidate Vernon Connor, and so that had its own set of issues. Further, I gather that the Returning Officer there has been very abrupt in her relation and interaction with him.”
Harris also gave an update on the progress of voting in his Constituency, Number Seven. He said it got off to a late state but has been progressing smoothly.
“In the case of my own Constituency, I can report that things appear to have gotten off to a reasonably good start, albeit late. The centre should have been available for voting at 9:00 a.m. As of 9:45 a.m., the centre was not yet available for voting. Indeed, the documentation etc., in relation to the voting, arrived subsequent to that. To his credit, Thomas Williams did apologise for the lateness but, in all other respects, when last I looked at Tabernacle I gathered that things were moving smoothly.”
Dr. Harris said there is concern in the Unity camp that “the Lists for early voters have not been provided to us and therefore the transparency, the fairness of the system basically is being compromised deliberately”.
SKNVibes has made attempts to contact Supervisor of Elections Wingrove George between yesterday and today to ask about preparations for the vote and, just recently, to ask about the alleged irregularities.
After much effort, this media house was successful in reaching him last evening and he indicated that he “don’t do business on the telephone, especially when I’m on speaker, so that’s what you need to know. So anybody wants to talk to me, I have an office and so anybody can call and say I am this, I am that and I can’t see through phone anymore…I coulda do it long time ago but I lost that skill”.
He however indicated that he would be in office today and that SKNVibes should call and let him know when this reporter would be stopping by.
All calls, in excess of seven, placed to the Supervisor of Election’s cell phone today, barring one, went straight to voicemail. The other rang once before going to voicemail. This publication has left two voicemail messages for George but they have yet to be responded to.
