Guardian sources have revealed that a number of “snags and deficiencies” is hindering the process. Among them, the source said leader of the Rainbow Team and incumbent president Pat Bain and Justice Team leader Roy Colebrook could not agree on a set date. “In all of it’s 20-plus years of existence, I have never known the hotel union to be in such chaos and disorder as it is now,” the Guardian was told.
In a brief interview with the Nassau Guardian Secretary General elect Leo Douglas confirmed that a date for the presidential run-off was still up in the air. “As far as I am concerned I don’t think Mr Bain has yet to be told about any election on June 23. That is what he said to me as the General Secretary, and I can only relay what he told me. He said he has no knowledge about elections on the June 23 because no one has spoken to him about it,” said Mr Douglas.
He added: “We have serious problems [in the union], and I hope the authorities would really look at it seriously and see what is happening.”
When contacted presidential candidate Roy Colebrooke confirmed that the June 23 date has been pushed back to allow for a nomination process to take place.”We have yet to decide on a another date [for the run-off]. We will be bringing that information out shortly, but we have to go through the nomination process first,” he explained.
Reportedly, nominations should be completed by next week Thursday.
Deputy Director Labour Josephine Bennons refused was tight-lipped on the matter.
“I can’t make comments on that right now. Something is going on. I can’t make any comments on that right now,” she said.
It is understood that several candidates in the May 26 hotel union elections are seeking legal advice, and would like to have the entire process declared “null and void.”
The elections have been marred by controversy and allegations of ballot tampering. Following the election, it was claimed that at least two of the ballot boxes went missing from the Grove Police Station. Unofficial results indicated Mr Bain, who held the presidency from 2000, was returned to the post with 1,037 votes, 20 more than his closest opponent, Roy Colebrook.
A recount of the ballots, however, had both men tied for the top post, each receiving a total of 1,043 votes, thus the run-off elections.
By: KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, The Nassau Guardian
