By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE acknowledging a resounding no vote, the Parliamentary Registration Department faces questions over its failure to adequately tabulate and issue the results of yesterday’s Constitutional Referendum.

Late into last evening and amid chaotic scenes, the department was blaming electrical failures, technical issues and procedural breaches for its inability to report totals for polling stations throughout the country.

“They are still coming in. All of the results coming in seem to be a rejection. I will leave it like that,” said Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall during an 11pm impromptu press conference at the department’s Farrington Road headquarters long after news had started to circulate of the referendum’s failure.

Last night, results from only six constituencies were released, one of which was incomplete.

Meanwhile, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts released a statement at 10pm appearing to concede defeat to the Vote no campaign in the Constitutional Referendum, despite no more than five constituencies’ results being officially tallied.

When asked of Mr Roberts’ statement and whether he was privy to inside information ahead of the department, Mr Hall would only state: “I cannot speak for Mr Roberts, sir.”

In a statement posted to Facebook last night, Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins accused the government of “suppressing” the referendum’s results, saying this was “repugnant to any democrat”. He accused Mr Roberts of colluding with the Parliamentary Registration Department “in preventing the full release of (Tuesday’s) election returns”.

“It is evident that the PLP chairman is trying to minimise coverage and commentary of the referendum results in (Wednesday’s) newspapers, thereby leaving it until Thursday’s papers, where the focus will shift to coverage of the Budget debate that begins tomorrow,” Dr Rollins said.

Last night Mr Hall tried to explain why the department could not release the full results.

“Basically, our fax (machines) are down because the (media) had to do some gymnastics with cabling, so whatever mechanism that I think you all did, (polling stations) had a difficulty communicating by fax to us. So most of the results were telephoned, by cell, etc,” he added.

According to Mr Hall, a power outage limited reports from the Montagu constituency. Additionally, issues with the department’s fax machines limited the reporting of results in “a number of other” constituencies.

Throughout the evening the department was plagued with internet issues, a lack of phone lines and at times, officials looked overwhelmed by members of the press.

Media outlets were stationed at all corners of the Parliamentary Registration Department’s offices.

Members of the press were informed that “runners” were in place and would transport results as they came in to all outlets. However, moments after results came in from the first polling station, chaos followed as some media outlets were granted access to results prior to Mr Hall having an opportunity to verify the numbers.

This led to the office rejecting media reports and implementing a moratorium on results being given to the press.

Mr Hall said the full results would be released by Thursday.