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A recount of ballots has begun in 3 constituencies, St Joseph, La Horquetta/Talparo and San Fernando west.

The Peoples National Movement won these seats in Monday’s General Election.

The PNM won a total of 22 seats and the United National Congress got 19.

UNC political leader Kamla Persad Bissessar refused to concede saying there will be recounts.

The recounts of the ballots began yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday campaign manager for the PNM Rohan Sinanan dismissed the UNC’s challenges as a waste of time.

Dr. Keith Rowley says now that his Peoples National Movement has won the polls, the Budget is next on the list.

He says once he announces his Cabinet, his Finance Minister will prepare the country’s Budget.

Dr. Rowley made the comment during his victory speech outside Balisier House last evening.

Dr. Rowley also spoke of tough times ahead for the country.

He hinted as well this would be his last term in active politics.

He said the way would be paved for the youth of the party.

The PNM won 22 seats in yesterday’s General Election and the United National Congress took the remaining 19 constituencies.

Political leader of the UNC Kamla Persad Bissessar has vowed to challenge the results of 3 constituencies.

Fourteen positive cases of the coronavirus have been reported.

The Ministry of Health says these new cases came from samples taken during the period August 7^th to August 11^th.

The Ministry insists this figure is not representative of the positive cases over the last 24 hours only.

According to the Ministry, 6 of the cases tested positive at private labs.

Seven are pending investigation and 1 is a contact of a recently positive COVID-19 patient.

The number of positive cases in the country since the first infection was detected now stands at 295.

One hundred and thirty nine of that number have been treated and discharged from hospitals.

The Ministry also reveals that 1 person has been discharged from the Caura Hospital over the period.

The total number of active cases is 148.

The campaign manager for the victorious PNM party is predicting another seat.

Rohan Sinanan says the Princes Town seat, won yesterday by Barry Padarath of the United National Congress, will soon go to the PNM.

Mr. Sinanan this morning referred to his party’s legal challenge of the nomination and candidacy of Mr. Padarath.

The PNM has said he erred in the nomination process.

On The Morning Show on i95.5fm today, Mr. Sinanan also dismissed the UNC’s challenges in 3 seats, won by the PNM.

Last night UNC leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar said there would be recounts in 3 constituencies.

Mr. Sinanan said that is a waste of time.

He is not too concerned about the party’s loss in Moruga/Tableland.

Mr. Sinanan is convinced the people heard and understood the challenges faced by the last government.

Movement for Social Justice candidate, David Abdullah admits he has had to vote for a non-MSJ candidate in the area he resides.

Mr. Abdullah, who is the Political Leader of the MSJ, contested the candidacy for the constituency of Point-a-Pierre.

He was 1 of 5 candidates for his party.

However, the MSJ did not contest the seat where Mr. Abdullah resides.

The Political Leader of the Progressive Empowerment Party says he will be bowing out of politics after this election.

Mr. Phillip Alexander does not believe his departure will be the demise of the party.

The Chief Elections Officer at the Elections and Boundaries Commission says the long lines at yesterday’s General Election were expected.

There were reports of long lines at polling stations across the country.

Mrs. Fern Narcis Scope says the COVID-19 protocols implemented at polling stations would have contributed to the length of the lines.

Mrs. Narcis Scope says the lines at the polling stations at the Gulf View Community Center in the San Fernando west constituency were of significance, as there were reports of voters waiting for over 3 hours to cast their ballots.

Mrs. Narcis Scope says there were a few issues, but by and large the voting process was without incident.

The Chief Elections Officer was speaking on the Post Election Analysis on i95.5fm yesterday.

Leader of the United National Congress, Kamla Persad Bissessar is not yet conceding defeat at the polls.

At her Siparia constituency office last evening, Mrs. Persad Bissessar said there would be recounts.

She expressed her surprise at the results of the polls, but at the same time she is pleased that the UNC gained, rather than lost.

The UNC placed its bets on victory for Jerlean John in La Horquetta/Talparo, but she lost to the PNM’s General Secretary, Foster Cummings.