Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner soundly defeated his lone challenger Ashvani Mahabir to return as chairman of the United National Congress (UNC) following Saturday’s internal elections.
Despite a record low voter turnout, party officials confirm that Warner recorded a land slide victory over Mahabir.
Official results are expected to be released on Monday but Trinidad and Tobago media reports indicate that the Nationalist slate led by Dr.Roodal Moonilal defeated its opponents including Generation Next led by former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and UNC solidiers led by Sunil Ramjitsingh.
Preliminary results also show the Moonilal team leading in at least seven divisions. But thousands of voters stayed away from the polls. Out of the approximately 81,000 registered voters listed to vote in the elections only 15,000 came out to vote.
Chairman of the elections committee Kemchand Ramdath said that around 20 per cent of the registered voters exercised their franchise. 63 candidates vied for 16 positions on the party’s national executive.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressed satisfaction with Saturday’s proceedings. She praised the various teams for conducting their campaigns with dignity. She dismissed concerns about the low voter turnout, pointing out that it was nothing out of the ordinary. Persad-Bissessar noted that she was anxious to work with the new executive. (CMC)
