The People's National Movement (PNM) is set to kick off a multi-million dollar campaign in what could be described as one of the largest election campaigns ever in the history of T&T. The PNM is making a strong bid to return to Government. Top party sources revealed to Sunday Guardian that an estimated budget of $2 to $5 million is being considered for each of the 41 constituencies. It all depends on the status of the seat–whether its marginal or not. The figure to run the PNM's campaign is estimated to cross $150 million. In 2002 when Franklin Khan brought home the Ortoire/Mayaro seat for the PNM, some $5 million was used to campaign. Also, the campaign figure for the Pointe-a-Pierre seat in the last election exceeded $2 million, party sources revealed.
The sum, sources revealed, does not include the $50,000 a candidate is entitled to under the Representation of the People Act. A significant portion of the money, sources said, is allocated to the purchase of T-shirts, rental of cars and payment of staff. Sunday Guardian has learnt that the San Fernando East constituency, which is held by Prime Minister Patrick Manning for more than 30 years, is in a financially sound position as a number of fund-raisers were held under his patronage last year. Sources revealed that earlier this year Manning had disclosed at a meeting of supporters in St Ann's that he had some $500,000 already set aside for his campaign.
Among the major events held to raise funds for Manning were:
1. the Independence Dinner and Dance at Petrotrin Staff Club;
2. PNM Carnival Fete held at San Fernando Hill and
3. Chutney extravaganza Desh Ki Awaz hosted at San Francique, along with other fund-raisers.
Only yesterday, the prime minister hosted a golf charity event at his La Fantasie Road, St Ann's residence. A member of the party's hierarchy said: "We are well on our way. We started since last year raising funds for an election and the earnings of every event was set aside. We were told to prepare for an election; we had no idea it was going to be a general election. We are ready to hit the road and campaign." It was only two weeks ago at the PNM Special Convention held at Chaguaramas, the D'Abadie/O'Meara executive, which is headed by chairman Herman Noel, held a cruise aboard the Treasure Queen to raise funds for the Cashew Tree Foundation. Finance Minister Karen Tesheira, the MP for that area, benefited from that fund raiser. As incumbent MP Paula Gopee-Scoon was preparing to face the screening committee at Balisier House yesterday, she too confirmed that several fund-raisers were on the way to boost her campaign.
Among them, Gopee-Scoon said, will be Taste of the Borough which will take place on April 26. Various local cuisine will be served. However, while party groups are mandated to raise funds for their constituency, additional funding is also given to each constituency to run their campaigns. "The PNM is an organisation. If a party group has one thousand members they are required to pay $24 for the year. It is in times like these the money is utilised. The law states very clearly that a candidate's funding cannot exceed $50,000. When we talk campaign we are talking money. "The campaign funding may increase depending on the ground work required to bring home the seat. Quite frankly, $100,000 is no money so we raise funding via fund-raisers and donations which are given to the Non Government Organisations (NGOs)."