ELECTIONS and Boundaries (EBC) CEO Fern Narcis-Scope says the organisation has been transparent and responsible during the 2025 general election process as the UNC makes claims of irregularities, breaches of procedure and communications failures against it.
In an April 17 statement, the UNC demanded urgent action and full accountability from the EBC, listing several issues including the news that ten ballots for special electors were wrongly included in the list for the Tunapuna constituency.
The party claimed that on April 16, UNC representatives asked the returning officer for clarification on the total number of ballot papers furnished by the EBC, the number of ballots issued for Tunapuna, the number of ballots not issued, and the number and status of the special ballot box presented, but the returning officer refused to provide the information.
It also claimed the date of special voting was changed from April 15 to April 16, as well as the venue without notifying the party in a timely manner. It said that prevented the UNC from “adequately participating in or observing a vital part of the process.”
In addition, it said the party’s representatives were not given access to special voting venues which facilitated people involved in offshore petroleum operations.
It complained, “These locations are at specially secured sites, to which UNC officials do not have access. The EBC has not provided UNC election officials with access to these facilities, and voting has begun already.”
As a result, the UNC demanded the EBC account for ten erroneous ballots in Tunapuna, provide the requested breakdown of ballot numbers, explain and correct alleged failures in communication about special voting, and ensure no future changes were made without formal and timely notification to all contesting parties.
“The UNC will continue to ensure that these breaches are recorded and corrected, and that a free and fair election will be conducted in Trinidad and Tobago, according to the highest international standards.”
In a telephone interview Narcis-Scope told Newsday UNC representatives had been writing the returning officers and information on the special voting ballot boxes was being provided to them.
She pointed out she was the one to inform all the political parties which fielded candidates in Tunapuna that there was an error, so the EBC was being diligent and transparent in its processes.
“That was the EBC being transparent and accountable, and that error was picked up part in parcel of us doing our checks. So one of the things people must appreciate is that the legislation has checks and balances throughout each process.
“In the letter to them, you would see the election rule was referenced in terms of how that check is conducted, under which election rule. And so it is in the process of conducting that, that there was an error in relation to special ballots issued in Tunapuna.”
She said the ballots were issued to people who belonged to other constituencies and the erroneous ballot papers were removed from t
