The People’s National Movement (PNM) has retained the two electoral districts contested in yesterday’s local government by-elections in Arima and Tunapuna.
Up to 8 pm, preliminary results showed the PNM getting more than 1,200 votes to the UNC’s 29 in the Malabar South district. The eligible voters in that district were close to 4,000 and in Auzonville/Tunapuna district the PNM got more than 2,514 votes to the UNC’s 327. There were about 11,000 eligible voters in that district.
The PNM candidates were former Arima Borough Corporation CEO, Merlyn Calliste (Malabar/South) and Travis Williams for the Auzonville/Tunapuna electoral district.
The United National Congress (UNC) candidates were Dara Singh and Lauren Kanhai.
There was an expected low voter turnout. Polls opened at 6 am and closed 12 hours later.
It was a very low-keyed campaign with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley addressing two meetings in support of the respective PNM candidates on the eve of the polls. There was no major public meeting hosted by the UNC as it had national executive elections two days before.
Many polls predicted victory for the PNMs. The by-elections were triggered after former PNM councillor Anthony Garcia, who represented Malabar South and Esmond Forde, who represented Auzonville/Tunapuna, resigned to contest the September 7 general election for Arima and Tunapuna respectfully.
Garcia is now the Minister of Education and Forde is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Local government elections are due next year and the Local Government Minister Franklin Khan has already said the polls would be held in November next year.