By Sue-Ann Wayow
TRINIDAD is once again split down the middle when it comes to Local Government as both the United National Congress (UNC) and the People’s National Movement (PNM) have won seven corporations each following elections on Monday.
This is a repeat of the last local government election 2019. Each party regained the same corporations held in the election dubbed “the mother of all local government elections.”
However, the UNC won an additional seat in at least two corporations – San Fernando and Sangre Grande – while the PNM won one in a UNC dominated corporation in Princes Town.
Although victory was not declared by either party, both boasted that they did well.
While the votes were coming in fast and furious in some corporations, it was a nail-biting finish in San Fernando up until 10 pm.
UNC candidate for Marabella South/Vistabella Sasha Ali won her seat for the UNC, over her former UNC team member Marcus Girdharrie who jumped ship and fought on a PNM ticket this time around.
John Michael Alibocus was able get the votes to win the Marabella West seat from the PNM.
But it was still not enough to win the corporation over which ended five to four in PNM’s favour. The allocation of aldermen in this corporation using a proportional representation formula will make the politics here very interesting.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley returned to the PNM headquarters at Balisier House in Port of Spain on Monday night after four years since a new building is under construction.
Speaking after the results, he said, “In the middle of our second term, we in the PNM are very happy that we’ve performed. Notwithstanding the relentless barrage of hopelessness and anger and whatever else, we went in with seven areas and we have come out with seven!”
Dr Rowley added, “We’re quite happy not to have been defeated and not lost ground in the middle of our second term.”
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the UNC’s Chaguanas head office said her party did extremely well and that the political accommodation with the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) headed by Gary Griffith “gave the PNM a run for their money.”
She also spoke earlier at her constituency office in Penal.
A recount would be requested for two electoral districts, one in the Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation and one in the Arima Borough Corporation.
“The PNM lost votes in almost all areas in Trinidad and we gained in PNM areas with close margins,” she said.
The corporations held by the PNM are:
- Port of Spain City Corporation; Diego Martin Borough Corporation;
- San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation;
- Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation;
- Arima Borough Corporation;
- Diego Martin Borough Corporation
- San Fernando City Corporation; and
- Point Fortin Borough Corporation.
The corporation regained by the UNC are:
- Sangre Grande Regional Corporation;
- Chaguanas Regional Corporation;
- Couva Tabaquite Talparo Regional Corporation;
- Mayaro Regional Corporation;
- Penal/Debe Regional Corporation;
- Siparia Borough Corporation; and
- Princes Town Regional Corporation.
All other parties contesting the election did not win in any electoral district.
