KINGSTOWN, St Vincent CMC:
HEAVY RAINS, associated with a surface trough, were causing floods and landslides across St Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday, as the island prepared for a general election on Wednesday.
An official statement read out on radio said that the weather pattern enhanced by a subtropical jet stream had produced numerous heavy showers and thunderstorms across the nation, with more than three inches of rainfall already recorded at the Joshua Inter-national Airport.
Political observers expect Wednesday's poll to be a keenly contested affair between the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) for the 15 seats at stake in the new Parliament.
They have given the relatively small SVG Green Party, which has nominated four candidates, no chance of influencing the outcome of the elections, which is being held at least four months before the constitutional deadline.
There are 91, 023 persons registered to vote in the elections and the political commentators say the turnout could be affected by the weather pattern.
On Monday, the observer team from the Organisation of American States (OAS) held discussions with Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and OAS Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, said he did not anticipate any controversy in the elections.
