(Trinidad Guardian) A 7-7 deadlock! Again!
The People’s National Movement and the United National Congress each won seven of the 14 regional corporations in yesterday’s Local Government Election –a stunning repeat of the 2019 LG election results.
But Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said results for one electoral area in the San Fernando corporation—which the PNM claimed it’s won—is still outstanding and the UNC will also be seeking recounts in other areas.
The PNM lost an area in the San Fernando Corporation but retained that corporation. PNM also held its other strongholds in the East West corridor and Point Fortin.
The UNC, which retained its South and Central strongholds, held Sangre Grande and also won another seat in that district. UNC also won the two new seats in Mayaro South/Guayaguayare and Couva West Roystonia.
Speaking at PNM’s Balisier House headquarters in Port-of-Spain—to which the party returned yesterday after a four-year absence—after the results were announced, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the PNM had won seven of the corporations.
Rowley said, “In the middle of our second term, we in the PNM are very happy that we’ve performed.”
He was drowned out by clapping and cheers.
Rowley added, “Notwithstanding the relentless barrage of hopelessness and anger and whatever else, we went in with seven areas and we have come out with seven!”
“Well done!” some PNMites around him again shouted.
“We’re quite happy not to have been defeated and not lost ground in the middle of our second term … Come let us build a nation,” Rowley urged citizens.
Rowley said the PNM lost a San Fernando seat by a few votes and almost breasted the tape in very many seats by a few votes. But he said most importantly, the PNM retained the San Fernando battleground.
He noted the PNM fought very hard in Sangre Grand but didn’t get over the line. The PNM won PoS, Diego Martin, San Juan/Laventille, Tunapuna/Piarco, Arima, San Fernando and Point Fortin corporations.
Rowley detailed the areas where PNM had won, also speaking about a Princes Town seat where the party did well.
Also citing PNM’s win in Arima and all seats in Point Fortin, he dismissed alleged figures for the NTA in Diego Martin, stressing PNM won all Diego Martin areas. Rowley said the PNM is now moving on to the next general election. (See page 5)
UNC will seek recounts —Kamla
Opposition leader Persad-Bissessar, who spoke from UNC’s Chaguanas head office at 10.55 pm, said “In spite of all the PNM has spent, we have done so well! The accommodation with the NTA gave the PNM a run for their money!”
Persad-Bissessar said the UNC increased Sangre Grande seats—now with six out of the eight—and also has four seats in San Fernando. She said the UNC got back the Marabella South/Vistabella seat which ex-UNC councillor Marcus Girdharrie contested for the PNM.
She gave other details of UNC’s victory and increased ground: Chaguanas (seven of the eight seats), Couva (all 15 seats) Mayaro (six of the seven seats), Penal/Debe (all 10), Siparia six of the nine seats and inroads in PNM areas), Princes Town (nine of 10).
Persad-Bissessar said in the PNM-controlled Tunapuna/Piarco, UNC won five of the 16 seats and made “tremendous inroads” in some PNM areas and one margin was so small UNC members would request recounts today.
UNC was still awaiting Arima results after winning one seat (Arima North East) and losing one seat by nine votes, which would also be challenged. She said UNC retained two seats in San Juan/Laventille.
“In Diego Martin we made tremendous inroads and should retain one alderman. In Port-of-Spain—I don’t have the figures for that…but the PNM lost votes in almost all areas in Trinidad and we gained in PNM areas with close margins,” she added
The UNC was also projected to have won the popular votes.
No districts for NTA, other parties
The NTA did not win any of the 31 districts which it contested in PoS, Diego Martin and other locations.
Also scoring nil were other contestants: the PEP, Reunited Farmers’ Association, PDP, MSJ, Unity of the People, Trinidad Humanities Campaign, The National Party and the six independents.
The electorate for yesterday’s LG election was 1,091,936—higher than in 2019 electorate of 1,079, 976. Some 13,284 special electors cast their ballots from August 7 to last Sunday.
There was no official turnout figure last night.
UN Senator Wade Mark queried if the turnout was under 40 per cent. The 2019 turnout was 34.49 per cent. The Election and Boundaries Commission is expected to give the turnout with preliminary results.
Griffith —NTA now T&T’s major third force
NTA leader Gary Griffith dismissed PM Rowley’s statements, pointing out that the NTA’s votes had cut into the PNM—and PNM won by less in various areas. Griffith said the NTA had now become a force to be reckoned with and the major third force in T&T.
He said there was no reason for the NTA and UNC to have had an accommodation without looking down the road to general election. He said it wasn’t about the UNC only, as the NTA will write other parties also.
