By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE People’s National Movement (PNM) Government has made a mess by postponing the Local Government election and now must go to the Parliament to fix it.
Member of Parliament for St Augustine Khadijah Ameen declared on Sunday, “This is the PNM’s mess and they now have to come to Parliament to clean up the mess they made.”
In Parliament today, (Monday, May 29, 2023), the process will begin in Parliament to hold the local government election in the soonest possible time following the judgement of the Privy Council on May 18.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said that the elections will be held.
Ameen, the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Local Government, speaking at the Opposition’s press briefing on Sunday called on Dr Rowley to name the date when he goes to the Parliament today to debate the Municipal Corporations (Extension of Terms of Office and Validation) Bill.
She said, “When we go to the Parliament on Monday to participate in this bill, we hope the Prime Minister will name the date of the election if he name man.”
Ameen maintained that the UNC were the “guardians of democracy” and will continue to hold the Government accountable for their actions.
The UNC has been gearing up for the upcoming election since last December along with the PNM and other parties.
Ameen encouraged voters to let this election be one to send a strong message of dissatisfaction to the Government.
She said, “The fact is when Government failed in local government, it failed every single citizen because the moment you step out of your house, local government issues hit you.
Whether it is garbage collection, patching of potholes or creation of local government economic development and sustaining local tourism, the fact is that local government impacts on every citizen because it is the arm of government closest to you.”
Listing out several issues in municipal corporations, the former Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation chairman said there was an increase in the number of families who could not afford food with a decline in employment and price increases, school dropouts, business closures and crime.
Ameen said Government failed to provide much-needed employment in the Corporations as they were still awaiting some 1,400 municipal police officers to be hired across the 14 municipal corporations as well as litter wardens.
Some PNM councillors were also feeling the strain of a lack of funding and resources but were afraid to speak publicly, she claimed.
Member of Parliament for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh also spoke.
