That we are in deep "doo-doo" is clear. The supporters of both sides of the political divide have dug in their heels and are seemingly intent on not just hurling racial epithets and other insults at each other, but are almost (and in some cases actually) promoting violence. The cause of all this is because of the growing perception that the recent election was anything but fair and there was massive cheating involved.
Now, let's get one thing clear: either there was cheating or there was none. It is (forgive the pun) a matter that is clearly black or white. And, especially in political matters, perception is always reality, which means that there has to be absolute confidence by a large majority of voters that the persons entrusted to conduct our elections are indeed impartial.
Those who support the PNM say that there was no cheating whatsoever and that the recounts are showing clearly that even if there were one or two mistakes in the counting, those mistakes do not amount to anything that could or would change the result. They go on to say, in essence, that T&T has always had a proud history of free and fair elections and that nothing has changed; the PNM prides itself on its democratic credentials and is not a racist or racial party. Further, the Elections & Boundaries Commission (EBC) has an impeccable record and there is no evidence to suggest that its record has been tarnished. They also deny vehemently that there was/is any collusion with any officials of the EBC.
Those who support the UNC are saying in essence that there was a massive fraud perpetrated by, and with the help of the EBC, in favour of the PNM and that there is too much circumstantial evidence that points to this to be dismissed lightly. In other words, if it walks like a duck ...!!
The circumstantial evidence that the UNC supporters are referring to is as follows:
(a) discarded poll cards being found dumped;
(b) some of the polling cards have questionable initials that point to the initials of the relevant returning officers being forged;
(c) discrepancies in the voter tallies between what is being reported as the number of votes cast and what was actually cast;
(d) the refusal of Dr. Rowley to produce the alleged letter from the Commonwealth Secretariat saying that it had no money to send election observers when the Secretariat's published accounts show that this was not true;
(e) the very early declaration by Dr. Rowley and his supporters that the PNM had won before the EBC had published its own results;
(f) that the head of the EBC is a family relative to a senior member of the PNM.
(g) that Faris Al-Rawi, the Attorney General in the last administration and the candidate for the San Fernando West constituency,was allegedly seen entering the Marabella office of the EBC shortly after the polls closed at 6 o'clock on Monday evening. This, the UNC people say, is highly suspicious.
That there are answers to some of the above accusations is a given, and that I may have left out some of the other accusations may also be true. But the problem here is best summed up by the old adage 'a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still'. In other words, the EBC has to prove conclusively to the country a negative, i.e., that it did not collude with the PNM in any way to alter the results.
It is always more difficult to prove a negative than it is to prove a positive but that this has now become absolutely necessary is most important for the country to move on. If it is not shown clearly and conclusively that there was no cheating then I regret to say that I predict and fear that there will be very serious repercussions that could easily lead to violence. So far, the reporting in the mainstream media does not seem to suggest that the fears of the obviously disgruntled UNC supporters are being dealt with seriously enough and that those fears are being rather lightly dismissed. This is not good. Not good at all!
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