Any PNM party member who runs afoul of the law in any way won’t be among the PNM’s local government selections.
PNM chairman Franklin Khan has made it very clear that running afoul of the law will be a major hindrance for any party member seeking selection as a nominee.
Meanwhile, UNC Couva/Talparo corporation chairman Henry Awong who also works at the UNC’s Tabaquite constituency office has confirmed he’s seeking nomination.
Such was the state of play within the ruling PNM and Opposition UNC as parties began looking towards local government polls expected before year-end, according to Khan’s count.
Last Thursday, Khan said that local polls—due between October 21, 2016, and January 21, 2017—will “very likely” be held before year-end and “under no circumstances” will they be postponed. He said it would be kept within the three-month period, as Tobago House of Assembly elections are due January 2017.
Last Friday, Parliament debated a motion on the draft Election and Boundaries Commission’s order on local government boundaries. That cleared the way for polls to be held, Khan said.
Out of the 136 electoral districts, the PNM currently holds 84 areas in eight corporations. The Opposition holds 46 in six others and three areas each are held by the COP and ILP.
The polls, likely to come a year after the new Rowley PNM administration took office, will measure the government’s performance and popularity levels, as well as that of the Opposition which will be seeking to regain ground lost in its 2015 general election defeat.
While the PNM will be fighting to retain its political lead obtained in the September 2015 general election, the Opposition will also be seeking to recoup lost ground from inroads made by former member Jack Warner’s ILP in the last local government poll of 2013. Warner is no longer ILP leader.
The election will come four or five months after the COP elects a new leader (or interim leader) and the COP’s new leadership will have to decide if it will contest solo or in an arrangement with other groups.
Khan, who is also Local Government Minister, says the PNM hasn’t started seeking nominees or even “mobilising significantly, but we’re always on the ground.”
The PNM has had a head start due to its 14 local government reform consultations over the last two months where reform plans have been outlined. Even if not fully in gear, the PNM is clear on the sort of nominees it wants—top-notch.
“Once people run afoul of the law in any way, that would be a major hindrance in anyone being selected or screened for the PNM,” Khan declared.
He said so when asked about incumbents/ prospectives who may have matters before the courts, like the south corporation councillor reported in the media last year as being involved in an alleged vehicular accident with a south businesswoman.
The PNM is putting its house in order for the polls by holding party and constituency unit elections between this month and next month.
The Opposition UNC has advertised in the media seeking local government nominees. The deadline for nomination is today. UNC chairman David Lee didn’t immediately reply to requests for a comment. Former whip Roodal Moonilal said the election will be a referendum opportunity for people to pronounce on the new administration.
“This will be the people’s chance to send a message on how they feel about losing jobs, having to pay more for a tin of tuna, losing their food cards and being unable to help their kids who have cerebral palsy—having to fight for survival. The PNM has manufactured a recession to disguise incompetence. We have a record of delivery and by now the people must see it.”
Concerns about Awong
Meanwhile, concerns have been expressed among certain UNC members about Awong serving “two masters”—the MP and the corporation.
Awong is listed among employees at the UNC Tabaquite constituency office from 2010 to 2015. Fixin’ T&T on Tuesday released information on constituency office employees, which was received from the Parliament. The Parliament pays constituency office employees’ salaries. Fixin’ T&T sought the information under the Freedom of Information Act.
Awong is listed as working at the constituency office from 2010 to 8/9/2015. The salary listed from 2010 to 2013 is $3,000 monthly, and $4,000 from 2014 to 2015.
Awong said, “I don’t see any conflict there, the work I do at the constituency office is part time and it’s special assignments. I also live in Tabaquite...
“I’m sure other chairmen or mayors also have other jobs...”
UNC Tabaquite MP Suruj Rambachan also confirmed Awong had worked in his constituency office for five years and can do that job as well as hold the post at the corporation.
“He was a part-time field officer and he’s still with the office..that won’t mitigate against him.
“He does a lot of work for me,” Rambachan said.