The final day of voting for new executive of the PNM take place today and the chairman of the party's Election Supervisory Committee (ESC) Anthony Roberts says the identity of voters will remain secret.

Roberts's assurance comes after a new concern was raised by candidate for political leader Karen Nunez-Tesheira.

In an interview on Saturday, Roberts told Newsday, “Members are free to vote for the candidate of their choice without any repercussions after Sunday.”

The PNM’s 50th convention, at the Queen's Park Savannah, takes place on Sunday, and voters will have the opportunity of casting their ballot for one of three candidates vying for political leadership, including the incumbent Dr Keith Rowley. On November 26 and 27, voters were hampered by bad weather.

[caption id="attachment_989180" align="alignnone" width="684"] Ronald Boynes[/caption]

Roberts said members should have no fear of being identified and punished or rewarded as Nunez-Tesheira’s team has been contending.

He assured members they could cast their vote for any of the three candidates for political leadership or any of the other contested positions without any fear of repercussion. Attorney Ronald Boynes is also contesting the post of political leader.

On November 30, Nunez-Tesheira fired off another missive to Roberts raising concern that the number which voters are given by the polling agent upon entry into the polling station is retained and placed into the ballot box with that person’s election booklet.

Through her campaign manager and attorney Peter Taylor, Nunez-Tesheira is contending this process compromises the principle of anonymity and secrecy upon which the internal election is predicated. Roberts acknowledged that is the process, but assured the voter would not be identified.

“The consecutive numbers will be noted on the book but the leaves of the sheet would be detached for the checking (of the ballots) so nobody will know which book they came from.

“They are all perforated and will be detached in order to count.”

On this basis, Roberts said, Nunez-Tesheira had no grounds for concern and welcomed her challenge for the leadership.

He also welcomed concerns and queries, pointing out “after all they are all PNM members.”

He said he is satisfied that the process is above board and transparent.

“Registered members are free to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice, without reward or punishment as Ms Nunez-Tesheira has implied.

“What we do, we do above the table, not below.”

Nunez-Tesheira has questioned the three days of voting over a nine-day period, the storing of ballots during that period, the identification of voters, as well as the ability of the election committee to cross reference a voter by the number assigned.

She lost a legal challenge to have the poll postponed before the High Court and Court of Appeal.

In the latest letter, also written on behalf of Kenneth Butcher and Bishop Victor Phillip who are on her slate, Taylor claimed they have been inundated with complaints from members