Kevin Baldeosingh
Both the People’s Partnership (PP) and the People’s National Movement (PNM) have been making many promises even before the election campaign officially started in August.
But which party is promising more?
As it turns out, the PNM and the PP are neck for neck, according to a count of the promises listed in their manifestos, which were both released in August.
Both contain around 300 promises. It is difficult to be exact, since some of the promises are repeated in different forms, especially in the PP manifesto.
The PNM has bullet points for its promises, which makes counting convenient, but the PP seems to have aimed at 30 promises per sector, which makes a total estimate easier.
The core question, of course, is how reliable are these promises? The Partnership has provided its own measure by claiming in its 2015 manifesto that “90 per cent Of Our 2010 Manifesto Promises Have Been Delivered And/Or Are In Progress.”
The “in progress” phrase is a hedge, since they can claim that a promise has been kept just on the basis of a signed agreement or a sod-turning ceremony. But what percentage of their promises have actually been delivered?
(An analysis of PNM promises was written by reporter Rhonda Krystal Rambally and columnist Hamid Ghany in this week’s Sunday Guardian.)
The PP’s 2010 manifesto had just over 400 promises. Two of the pledges at the start of the document apparently fall under the 10 per cent that have neither been delivered nor are in progress: “Limiting the Prime Minister to two successive terms as Head of Government” and “Rules governing the conduct of the Government and political parties during an election period.”
The third promise was half-fulfilled: “We will establish a Constitution Commission to engage in the widest possible consultation as a pre-requisite to constitutional reform.”
And what about the main concern of citizens for the past 15 years—crime? The PP’s 2010 manifesto had approximately 21 crime-fighting promises, while its 2015 manifesto has 30 such promises. (See Box One)
Of the ten key initiatives listed in the 2010 document, only two have been implemented: setting up the National Security Operational Centre (NSOC) and strengthening “the National Security Council to link intelligence, strategy and execution in crime fighting.” However, the overall goal of reducing serious crimes, according to Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, has been achieved with a 50 per cent reduction (except for homicides) as compared to 2009 figures. The Partnership also had a 32-point checklist titled “120 Days of Immediate Action.”
Box Two lists the 13 promises which weren’t kept. (See Box Two)
Using the loosest criteria, 20 of these proposals were implemented, which is 56 per cent. The 2010 manifesto also had nine general goals, within which the following promises were not kept: a land use and physical planning framework; poverty reduction; sustainable jobs; flood security; and improved productivity.
The PP also promised: “We will have clean, responsible and responsive government with legislative changes and constitutional amendments to curb excesses and abuse of power.”
In respect to this last, the 2010 manifesto had 12 key proposals. Of these only two were implemented—supporting a free press (by amending the Libel Act) and passing procurement legislation. That’s a 16 per cent promise-keeping rate.
Using this sample approach, it appears that the actual percentage of promises delivered by the PP is around 25 per cent—a far cry from the claim of 90 per cent.
Crime-fighting promises
• We will support the management of the Police service to ensure that there are proper levels of policing and hold it accountable for effective delivery through the establishment of clear measurable benchmarks for crime reduction and containment
• We will establish a National Security Operational Centre (NSOC), involving use of technology to set up a real-time centralised system for tracking crime. This will involve equipping every Police vehicle with a Global Positioning System (GPS) and linking with every police station through an appropriate technology platform. Abuse of equipment will not be tolerated
• We will enforce traffic laws. A majority of crime involves the use of vehicles. Enforcement of road traffic laws and regulation would serve as a major deterrent to such illegal activity. A variety of mechanisms including Radar Speed Detection Guns will be used in this
• We will use GPS bracelets on offenders who are on probation but are still deemed a security risk (so that their movement can be monitored) and if legislation is required, we will take the necessary steps
• We will guard our coastline through the 360˚radar linked to all branches of the security services. Connectivity will be monitored and we will insist on staying connected.
• We will establish the National Security Protective Services Training Academy to improve capacity of our police officers to perform at their optimal levels
• Training programmes and merit systems will be established to motivate police to new ideals of justice
• We will strengthen the National Security Council to link intelligence, strategy and execution in crime fighting
• We will modernise physical infrastructure and amenities to boost morale and improve productivity
• We will implement the criminal injuries and compensation laws and adjust the measure of compensation
Source: PP Manifesto, 2010
120 DAYS OF IMMEDIATE ACTION
4. We will establish a working committee to review all programmes targeted at poverty alleviation and social support to make recommendations to: a. Strengthen synergy, reach and impact through rationalisation and integration b. Help households to step up to prosperity and to reduce the number of people classified as poor by 2% each year.
5. We will begin an aggressive programme to fix all leaks in WASA’s pipelines, and establish an emergency response unit for monitoring system dysfunction, unplanned disruptions and crisis management.
6. We will coordinate integrated action on water resources management, drainage, irrigation, flooding, water capture, conservation, sustainable food production and food security through synergistic deployment of human resources and equipment under state control in collaboration with private contractors.
7. In partnership with CBOs and NGOs our government will release appropriate resources from the Green Fund to reforest areas that were burnt during the past dry season.
10. We will begin a review process for the minimum wage.
18. We will look at the immediate challenges of each hospital and determine what needs to be done to make an immediate difference in the lives of citizens seeking care and we will act immediately on these—whether it is 50 more beds in a hospital, a vital piece of much-needed equipment or improving the effectiveness of delivery of emergency patient care.
21. Each minister will be required to present a one-year action agenda for consideration and approval by Cabinet after consultation with senior ministerial staff within thirty (30) working days of swearing in. Each ministerial action agenda, once approved, will be included in the next budget.
22. Each ministry will be required to begin work on a five-year strategic plan within the first 60 days for completion by February 2011 within the framework of our manifesto.
23. We will establish an Economic Development Board which will consult with stakeholders and play an advisory role in policy formulation.
25. We will initiate consultation to develop a coherent export strategy, an industrial policy linked to knowledge formation and a national services industries competitiveness strategy with key stakeholders.
29. We will work with the Central Bank, CSO and the public service to determine the true condition of the country’s finances and the state of the economy and the condition of projects to share that information with our citizens.
31. We will formulate a project plan for completion of all infrastructural projects currently in train in Tobago.
32. We will establish a Ways and Means Committee to formulate a project plan on a phased basis to make all government public services more accessible to residents of Tobago.
Source: People’s Partnership Manifesto, 2010