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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines $60.00 per month and lower Ask about our Free 24 hour trial FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.08 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50 The team for their petitioners in discussion during a break. It was there week to make their case. by DAYLE DA SILVA Windward in the 2015 Keith Scotland, legal counsel for petitioner Lauron elections, there was none. Baptiste, drilled the former Supervisor of Elections on FORM 16 IS THE DOCUMENT The assertion by the existence or non-existence of a Form 16 for polling used by official workers at a Scotland came during his station NW1. polling station to record both cross-examination of Sylvia the preliminary and final Findlay-Scrubb, who was as to what transpired?” said she did not. results, and gives account of the Supervisor of Elections Scotland asked. He asked if there was a all the votes cast. (SoE) up to the 2015 She said that such an reason she did not do so, The question of whether elections. issue would have however and there was a long pause, a Form 16 was presented at been resolved by the prompting Scotland to ask: the final count for polling Counterfoils and ballots presiding officer, with the “Madam, are you looking station NW1 in the North official numbers included on for a reason?” Windward constituency, Scotland asked Findlay- the Form 16. “No, I am trying to during the 2015 general Scrubb if she recalled But Scotland insisted, recollect,” she said. election, was the focus of receiving complaints from there was no Form 16 According to Scotland, the Elections Peition earlier that polling station about produced for the polling the former supervisor of this week. excessive counterfoils, station concerned. elections signed a witness According to the Keith pointing out that there were When asked if she statement, and she had Scotland, the lawyer 366 ballots but 405 produced any of the three years to say to the representing counterfoils recorded. Both documents for North court, I am assisting the Sylvia Findlay-Scrubb, former Supervisor of petitioner Lauron numbers ought to have Windward to indicate that court and here are the Elections, remained forthright in her Baptiste, the New corresponded. the number of counterfoils forms, to which she agreed. responses, but may have opened some way Democratic Party’s “When that came to your and ballots had in fact for Scotland to pursue the issue to a hilt. candidate in North attention, did you inquire matched, Findlay-Scrubb Continued on Page 3. 2. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN SVG PORT AUTHORITY AWARDEESAAWWWAARDEES LONG SERVICE AAWARDSAWWWAARDS (40 Years) MrMr.r.. Elwyn Joseph Ms. Verne Ryan, top performer in the Accounts / Finance Department receives (35 Years) award from Manager, Finance & Accounting, Mrs. Germaine Nichols receives long service award for Mrs. Kimalla Cambridge Hewitt. MrMr.r.. Norris Gumbs Mr. Norris Gumbs receives Long Service Award for 35 25 years from Chairman SVGPA, Mr. Clayton Burgin. years from Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bishen John. Ms. Pamela Phillips On Saturday, February 2, 2019, the MrMr.r.. TTrevorevorr Roberts St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority held its Annual Dinner and (30 Years) Awards Ceremony at the Cruise Ship Mr.Mrr.. Junior Lee Terminal and Ferry Berth at 7:00 p.m. (25 Years) The welcome remarks were done by Mr.Mrrr.. Newton BrowneBrowne Mr. Bishen John, CEO of the SVGPA, while other remarks were done by Ms. VinceliaV incelia JeffreyJeffrey Mr. Delroy Smart, top performer in the Mr. Clayton Burgin, Chairman Security Department receives award from the Mrs. Germaine Nichols Chief Security Officer, Mr. Harvey Caine. Trevor Roberts receives long service award for 35 years of the SVGPA. from SVGPA’s Chairman, Mr. Clayton Burgin. (20 Years) The evening was one of cheer and MrMr.r.. Ebon Oliver excitement as the Port Authority awarded nine (9) employees for their outstanding performance in 2018, and (15 Years) sixteen (16) employees for their years Mrs. Samantha Bailey Reid of service to the organization. Mr.Mrr.. CaswaldC ProvidenceProvidence Employees who retired in 2018 were Mrs. Carina McQuilkin top performer in the (10 Years) also appreciated for their years of Information Technology Department, receives award from Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Nichole Hazel GunMunrGunMunroo hard work and service to the Mr. Bishen John. Mrs. SharSharonon Clarke SVG Port Authority. Mrs. Samantha Bailey Reid receives long service Mr.Mrr.. Lenski Douglas award for 15 years from Council Member, Mr. Winston Davis. MrMr.rr.. Leslie Ferdinand Mr.Mrr.. Lugo Beache MOSTST OUTSTANDINGOUTSTOUTSTTAANDING EMPLOEMPLOYEEOYYYEE IN DEPDEPARTMENTPAARTMENT Cruise Ship Terminal Ms. Bonnie Allicot, top performer in the & Ferry Berth Operations Department – Kingstown receives award from Assistant Operations Goldd ToneyTTooney Officer, Mr. Sudarmo Toby. Mr. Caswald Providence receives long service award Maintenance for 15 years from Council Member, Mr. Winston Davis. Retiree, Mr. Kemuel Fox receives gift from SVGPA’s Mr.Mrr.. Olivet Peters Chairman, Mr. Clayton Burgin. Operations - Campden Park Ms. Cuwanda TobyTTooby Finance / Accounts Ms. VerneVVeerne RyanRRyyan Mrs. Ginel Huggins, Top Performer in the HR/Admin Department receives award from Security Department the Administrative Personnel Officer, Mrs. De-Aon Sayers. MrMr.r.. DelroyDelroy Smart Mrs. Nichole Hazell GunMunro receive long service award for 10 years from Council Member, Mr. Vernon McDowall. Marine Mr.Mrrr.. Dwayne Abbott Information Technology Mrs. Carina McQuilkin Operations - Kingstown Ms. Bonnie Allicot HR/Admin Mr. Lenski Douglas receives long service award for Mrs. Ginel Huggins 10 years from Council Member, Mr. Vernon McDowall. V News 3 THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019. 3. Integrity of ballot Below: A specimen of a plastic ballot box. Note the ties used to secure the boxes questioned lid. ISSUES SURROUNDING THE USE of whether the election officers used plastic ballot boxes in the 2015 General The issue of ‘ties’ more ties than was provided. Elections were again raised, as the 2015 But she again said that this was not election petitions hearing continued Later on, during the cross- a possibility because the remaining earlier this week. examination, Scotland declared that it ties were at the electoral office. The issues arose during the second was common knowledge that the boxes cross examination of the then could not be locked in a traditional Those plastic boxes Supervisor of Elections (SoE), Sylvia manner. It was then established that Findlay-Scrubb by Keith Scotland, the coloured ties, or straps, were used to As for the use of plastic boxes, attorney representing Lauron secure the ballot boxes. Findlay-Scrubb told the hearing that Baptiste, the petitioner in the North When Scotland asked whether it she did not raise a concern about the Windward petition. was possible for the ties to be cut and boxes since plastic boxes were used in Scotland asked the witness to state replaced, Findlay-Scrubb said no. the Referendum in 2009 and in the whether the boxes were plastic with She explained that this was not General Elections of 2010. detachable lids, which suggested that possible because agents were given a Scotland, persisting that the plastic they could be removed at any time, to limited supply of ties to be used in the boxes were of a major concern, which she replied in the affirmative. process. The maximum number of questioned the former SoE about a When asked if it were true that ties designated of any one colour was large flap on each box, which allowed there were no hinges on the boxes, nor five and the minimum was four. for more than one ballot to be entered were there any locks attached, she Although the former Supervisor of at a time. again responded in the affirmative. Elections remained confident that But Findlay-Scrubb said that she “And consequently no keys to those none of the ballot boxes were tampered could not say because the ballots were boxes?” Scotland asked, and again with, Scotland reminded her that she entered one at a time. more than one ballot could be entered solicited a yes answer from the former was not in North Windward on the Scotland persisted and again asked at any one time, to which she SoE. day, and she had no way of discerning her if she was able to determine if responded that she did not know. (DD) Was there a Form 16 for NW1? Decision in election Continued from Front It provides you and the no and cited that the Page. constituents with an forms (Form 16) assisted account of how the totals her in her final report. petition for end of March “So why didn’t you were arrived at,” “Do you agree with me show the Form 16s?” he Scotland advanced. that in your disclosure A DECISION with respect to two threw out the petitions deeming them asked. That said, he that no such document Election Petitions could be handed baseless. “Maybe it escaped my proceeded to say that the had been disclosed?” down by the end of March 2019. Further delays set in to allow for mind at the time,” she SoE provided the results Scotland further This, according to the presiding periods of technical and legal responded. of the poll, but had failed asked her to look at the judge, Justice Stanley John. arguments by both sides, as they An exchange ensued to show how the results Form 18, the He gave the hint last Tuesday as jockeyed to establish the viability of between the attorney were arrived at for endorsement document, the matter ended without cross the petitions on the one hand, and and witness as to the polling station NW1. and to let the court know examination of Winston Gaymes, the futility on the other.