PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has hinted at not pursuing a legal challenge to the results of the September 7 general election, saying members of the coalition People’s Partnership “will do our patriotic duty as members of the Opposition”.

In a posting on her Facebook page, Persad-Bissessar said that the “result of an election is an expression of the will of the people”, and that she was taking this opportunity “to congratulate my opponent Dr Keith Rowley on his victory”.

Rowley led the People’s National Movement (PNM) to victory in the election, winning 23 of the 41 seats.

Persad-Bissessar had said she would challenge the results of the elections after indicating that the coalition was ahead of the polls when the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) decided unilaterally to extend the voting period by one hour due to the inclement weather.

“Information and data received by the party strongly suggested that the People’s Partnership was comfortably ahead in the polls at 6:00 pm. The march to victory adversely affected by the sudden unilateral decision by the EBC to extend hours of the poll from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm,” the coalition said.

It said that the “EBC cannot and should not change the rules of engagement without giving proper notice to candidates, political parties, and voters.

“We have received reports that citizens were unable to cast their vote at certain polling stations because the officials of the EBC were themselves unaware or uncertain about the decision to extend the time of voting until 7:00 pm. Additionally, many citizens were unaware of this extension of time and hence did not cast their vote.”

But the EBC dismissed the claim, saying that under the Constitution it was correct in extending the time.

In her Facebook posting, Persad-Bissessar said that she wanted to wish Rowley “all the best for the sake of all our people. Indeed, the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago deserve competent and effective governance, and it is my hope that this new Government can continue our legacy of performance and delivery.

“Personally, I am very proud that so many promises were delivered during my Government’s time in office,” she said.