NDP nomination process unfair

Dear Editor: I’d like to respond to Paul Makosz’s criticism of my analysis of the recent NDP nomination process that elected Tarik Sayeed as a “farce” (Herald, Dec. 1).

There were several improprieties during the recent nomination process that were absolutely unethical. I had hoped to avoid using the paper as a venue to inform the public of these improprieties; however, Makosz’s letter begs for a response.

Those working on the Toni Boot side were continuously dismayed with the obvious bias that some members of the election committee exhibited toward Sayeed. One of the most serious occurred when Sayeed requested to have an advance poll in Penticton so that his supporters could attend a Liberal event with Dan Ashton which was on the same day as the nomination meeting. His request was approved. When Boot asked for an advance poll of some nature for her supporters in Summerland, the request was denied.

During the advanced poll on Nov. 21, the rules changed at the whim of the committee chair throughout the day. Vouching, which was not to be allowed, was suddenly allowed for obvious Sayeed supporters; in fact; the chair herself did the vouching. When a couple, that were obvious Boot supporters, forgot their ID, the chair would not allow them to be vouched for. When questioned by a Boot scrutineer, the chair reminded her that the chair made the rules and that was that.

There were often more than two people in a voting stall at one time — another impropriety. Ballots were translated into Punjabi and members were told where to mark their ‘X” in front of several other members — the principle of a secret ballot simply did not exist.

Boot’s scrutineers were prevented from checking the registration lists to see who had voted. Complaints to the chair were ignored.

And the fact that Toni Boot lost by only 18 votes is worth re-mentioning. The close results clearly illustrate that many NDPers in Penticton understood the need for a candidate that could win Penticton.

I am glad that Makosz didn’t appear to notice any of this. It was my hope that those of us who witnessed such abuse of a democratic process could simply leave the NDP and carry on with life.

Official complaints have been made to the provincial office of the NDP — but so far there has been no response. And that is unfortunate. A nomination process needs to be transparent, fair, and just. This simply didn’t happen during the recent NDP nomination for a candidate. Vicki Lightfoot Summerland