On Yesterday's newscast, we told you about how a recount had been underway to determine who has won the elections in Stann Creek West. The first count showed that the UDP's Walter Garbutt had won the election, but two boxes had been overlooked, and when they were counted, the Returning Officer called the elections for the PUP Incumbent Rodwell Ferguson. That 8 vote win will stand, and the UDP appears to have conceded defeat in that constituency - after first indicating that it would go to court.
This evening, the Chief Elections Officer told the press what's next:
Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer
"We got the official results and I will tell you that for the Stann Creek West electoral division, the official result is as follows: Rodwell Stephen Ferguson Jr. of the People's United Party got a total of 3300 votes; Walter Garbutt of the United Democratic Party got a total of 3292 votes and Milton Palacio from the BPP got a total of 48 votes. 35 votes were rejected. So if you look at the difference between the United Democratic Party and the People's United Party, the difference still remains at 8 even after the recount."
Daniel Ortiz
"Since that is the final results. Have all parties agreed to turn away from whatever challenges they intended to make in the courts?"
Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer
"My understanding is that yes, all parties agreed. They have signed off on the statement of the poll form, but for persons who do not agree, the representation of the people's act give them the opportunity to file an election petition. So if that would be filed, it's something that we would have to wait and see."
As you heard, both sides have officially signed off on these results, which means that no election petition should be filed. Even though the UDP has conceded defeat, it still has 21 days from the date of official publication of the election results in the Gazette to file an election petition in the Supreme Court.
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