VOTE CAST: Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan displays her ink-stained finger yesterday after casting her ballot in the Congress of the People National Executive elections yesterday at Grant Memorial Presbyterian School, San Fernando. She emerged victorious for the post of chairman of the party. —Photo: DEXTER PHILIP

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Carolyn whips Toney in COP elections

By Renuka Singh

Minister of Public Administration Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan yesterday emerged victorious as the new chairman of the Congress of the People (COP).

With her landslide victory over her predecessor Joseph Toney, Seepersad-Bachan now sits as the first female chairman of the party.

By the end of the tally after 9 p.m last night, Seepersad-Bachan earned 1,191 votes, Toney 650 and new-comer Rekha Ramjit 243.

Nicole Dyer-Griffith stepped into the deputy chairman's position, filling the vacancy created by Vernon de Lima's resignation in September.

She too earned a landslide victory over Hugh Nurse and Vido Ramroop, with more than 900 voted more than her nearest competitor.

Even with a lower than usual voter turnout yesterday, it took more than five hours after the close of polls to tally the final score.

Just after 8 p.m. last night, with five polling stations still to be tallied, Toney said he conceded defeat.

Toney said he was still en route to the hall when he called and congratulated Seepersad-Bachan on her victory.

"This is a democratic process, the membership has spoken and she has won," he said.

Final votes were still being tallied up to press time.

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