KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, (CMC) – Polling stations across this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country closed officially Wednesday after a 10 hour period during which an estimated 90,000 people were eligible to cast ballots to elect a new government.

Both the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) are predicting victory with the leaders of the two parties – Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and NDP Leader Arnhim Eustace – facing the possibility of writing local history.

Gonsalves is seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office, while Eustace is intended on reversing a losing trend dating back to 2001.

The NDP, which brought a number of regional lawyers to help it monitor the poll, has claimed that in some constituencies there were widespread voting irregularities, but the Supervisor of Elections, Sylvia Findlay-Scrubb, called on the party to present the proof.

The elections were monitored by several overseas teams including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

While there were four political parties representing 43 candidates, only the ULP and the NDP have any chance of controlling the 15-seat Parliament.