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President of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Arnhim Eustace on Saturday said that the party has “unmistakable proof” that Wednesday’s general elections were “stolen”.
Electoral officials have declared the Unity Labour Party (ULP) winners of the election by a one-seat majority, a repeat of the 2010 election result.
But the NDP, which has been declared winners of the seven remaining seats, is claiming victory, saying that it also won the Central Leeward seat, which official have placed in the ULP column.
Eustace told the media and party supporters at NDP headquarters, Democrat House, in Kingstown that since his initial statement on radio Friday night, additional information has surfaced “confirming, first of all, that there were over 320 illegal votes cast in the constituency of Central Leeward alone”, and noted that the ULP’s Louis Straker, who has been declared winner of the seat, won by 318 votes.
“And that is only in two polling station,” Eustace said of the voters who he claimed cast ballots illegally in Central Leeward.
“I can also say that none … of those [ballot] boxes were sealed,” Eustace said.
“You know, as I grapple with the information received this morning, I became very angry, because our people expect free and fair elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said to applause from party supporters.
Related:
- IN PHOTOS: SVG Election 2015 results
- NDP ‘stunned by some of the irregularities discovered so far’ — Eustace
- Gonsalves & Straker sworn in as PM, deputy
Eustace said he would have liked to give all the details he had at the event, adding, “but it is not wise from a legal perspective”.
“It really is disgraceful that in a supposedly free and democratic country, that we find ourselves in this situation where we cannot vouch for the sanctity of the poll in a general election in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This is a disgrace. Ir is something that we have to be ashamed of, something that should be condemned by the international and regional community.”
Eustace said he has a statement of the poll after the counting of the ballots by the presiding officer. “And believe it or not, in CLA1 – that’s the polling station, 100 per cent of the people on the list voted. Where you can ever hear that? When you get 65 per cent or 70 per cent voting in a polling station, you figure you are doing pretty well. But to have 100 per cent of the votes being cast of those persons in the list is really a very serious matter. It can’t happen that 100 per cent of the people will turn out to vote.”
Eustace said that what is more notable is that in that same polling station, a lady living in Tobago is listed as having voted, but she was in Tobago.
“We are continuing to investigate that particular matter, because that brings up another very important issue: that there are people whose names or whose ballots were filled out by somebody else and that person voted. We will be giving a great deal of attention to that.
“And the lady herself has already been on Facebook indicating that she wasn’t here,” Eustace said.
“Now, when you combine that with the number of polling stations — I think you have about three — where you had a hundred per cent, and, in one case, over a hundred per cent of the people voting, it tells you that this whole election is a fraud and we must not accept the result of this election and the New Democratic Party will not accept the results of this election.”
Eustace said the NDP will take the necessary legal action.
“Our team has been working almost full time. Right now, we have people in the field dealing with some of these issues. Because it is clear to me today that the ULP did not win the election on Wednesday. And we will be continuing and we are continuing today to do the necessary work and in another 48 hours, we will expect to have some matters before the court.”
Eustace said he is aware that it is the yuletide season and a lot of people would want to turn their minds to Christmas.
“That is understandable. And, I want you to recognise that work is still going on,” he said, adding that he was criticised for not making a statement on Thursday or Friday.
“The day before, I was standing on the steps of the police station in Layou for six and a half hours in front of the crowd of people who were down there” he said, adding that he could not make a statement or walk around and visit his constituency and apologised for it Friday night.
“We are not, under any circumstance, giving in to this particular issue with the election in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I cannot tell you how much time it will take. It is a legal matter. It could be short, and I hope it is short. But we are doing the work, which is necessary for us to form government in St. Vincent and the Grenadines not long from now.”
Eustace said the elections were conducted under circumstances that were illegal, which have undermined the will of the electorate who voted.
“I know that this view is shared by the majority of Vincentians, who are aware of the miserable social and economic conditions in this country under the ULP government,” Eustace said.
“The necessary legal action” will still be in progress long after most of us are dead and buried.
Go to the court. Why did you not do this as well in 2001, 2005 and 2010. I’m like Thomas. Give me facts. Don’t waste time with petition. Prove it in court
Very shocking! it leaves us with a mixture of feelings. A man like Eustace that has been entrusted with the leadership of the NDP has Dedicated himself to being a man of principal, fairness and integrity. If he stands by these findings I believe him. Will our courts have the same integrity, or will they be like our Governor General? If they too sell their souls for thirty pieces of silver, what next?
Eustace better stay the course and never give up. The truth can be like the swords of a thousand-man army; if it is used properly. Even Ralphs lies, tricks, vast wealth and deceptions will fall before it.
The integrity of our nation now depends on him.
The way to expose a tyrant is to get him to act like one out in the open where everyone can see it.
One of the problems is that he has bought a large section of the police, the DPP, the Judiciary, lots of bent lawyers, and support from all the nasty people in our society who go on radio and web sites like this and give him support and embroider his continual flow of lies.
Shane you have been given some of the facts [but not all] which are going to be put before a court. There is a fast track method designed for just these kind of matters.
I believe every polling station was affected and perhaps it would be better to call a new set of elections.
This was an excellent forum to provide the “unmistaken proof” that has been referred to on many occasions. With over 85,000 registered voters, I trust that there are more substantial irregularities that the one woman in Tobago- which it is critical that he also provides proof for, not just hearsay and a facebook post. Having 100% turnout for a polling station may be unusual, but it’s not impossible. 100% turnout in an entire constituency is more unusual and more suspicious.
If the election was manipulated to the degree that he claims, then I am all for taking measures to overthrow the falsely elected government. However, if on Monday he is unable to produce this proof, and he continues repeating these tired, empty allegations, then we need to have a serious discussion about his capacity to serve in Parliament.
If on Monday, is still unwilling to answer certain questions, then he is just as bad- or worse- than the people he targets with his statements. When something happens that you “feel” is wrong or doesn’t line up with your expectations or desires, this is not the appropriate reaction for a mentally capable adult. If there is no actual proof, then it is just sad that he has surrounded himself with avid believers of the view that NDP won the elections.
If there is no proof, the NDP is not punishing Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP. They are punishing the people of St. Vincent, the majority of whom have voted for the present government. Their rejection of the election results is the same as the rejection of the free will of the people. This is not just an indication that they are unfit to serve the NDP. They are unfit to serve in Parliament.
Excellent reply.
As for the controversial constituency of Central Leeward, 77 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, a high percentage to be sure but a far cry from the 100 percent or more some people are claiming for the constituency.
I don’t have the figures for voter turnout in 2005 (which should be available for anyone who takes the time to search) but can state from what has been published so far that in Central Leeward 47 percent of voters marked their “X” for the NDP in 2015 vs. 43 percent in 2010.
What kind of ULP “ballot stuffing” is that when your NDP candidate gets four percent more votes from one election to another?
Clearly this was because Ben Exeter (NDP) was more popular than chronic loser Norell Hull.
And how do you otherwise explain the results in Central Leeward which are in contradiction to the national results which showed an overall decline for the NDP of 1.5 percent between 2010 and 2015.
If they are so good at stealing elections, why didn’t the ULP rig the election in the even more important seat of North Windward which had by far the closest results in the country?
Or is this simply a matter of the NDP either not being able to count or simply being childish sore losers?
I sincerely believe that Ralph Gonsalves is the worst Prime Minister we have ever had (next to Sir James Mitchell) but also sincerely believe that so far Arnhim Eustace’s claims of electoral fraud do not even pass the smell test.
Eustace is the Prime Minister and Ralph is “the thief in chief”.
Proof?
Mr Useless and his cohorts should accept the will of the people and stop acting like cry cry babies . There are no proof that the ULP had not win the elections .
In every constituency in SVG the ULP has increased their votes over the 2010 elections . Why should we believe that they only steal from one Poling Station .
All the NDP doing is distroying the country . They appears to me like power hungers who can’t live without them being the master .
If they continue like this they are going to be in opposition for a very long time . The NDP should reflect on why they lost instead of destroying the future development of the country .
Listen Mr.Eustace,
Stop wasting our time and your supporters time and energy in the sun.
Simply take the proof to court and get sworn in.
We are tired of your games