PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning were hampering voting here on Monday as Trinidad and Tobago elect a new government.

The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) said they were no provisions for extending the voting period with the EBC communication manager, Dominic Hinds telling the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that all 2,199 polling stations will close at the stipulated 6:00 pm (Trinidad time).

The Meteorological Office said that there is no weather system affecting the  twin island republic, but indicated that there would be brief showers during the course of the day.

The rains have left many streets flooded and some roads impassable and at many polling stations there were no signs of voters in queues waiting to cast their ballots.

There are an estimated 1.09 million people eligible to vote in the election that is seen as a straight fight between the coalition People’s Partnership headed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) headed by Dr Keith Rowley.

Rowley, who voted in his Diego Martin West constituency early Monday, told reporters that he is confident that the party would be victorious.

Leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Austin Jack Warner, who is contesting the Chaguanas East seat, told reporters after casting his ballot that his party could still play a significant role in the outcome of the polls.

“There are people here enough to go into Parliament… of that I’m sure,” Warner said, adding he is hoping that the party wins at least three seats.

“So three/four seats is what I need. In any case I don’t need more than three you know… that’s all I need,” he added.

Former prime minister Patrick Manning, who voted in the San Fernando East constituency, south of here, said that he voted for the PNM, which he led for more than decade until it lost the 2010 general election.

“I have voted, I vote for the PNM and that’s all there is to say, nothing else,” he said.