The curtain came down on the local government elections yesterday, bringing an end to weeks of mudslinging, pre-action protocol letters and millions of dollars spent on campaigning.It was the first time citizens saw such blow-by-blow character assassination on display among most of the main contending parties: the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), the Peoples National Movement (PNM) and the People's Partnership (PP).
It was also the first time so much of the campaign was televised live, like instalments in a soap opera or reality show, complete with calypsoes, dramatic revelations, apparently leaked police evidence, and even the use of animal props–a goat in a yellow T-shirt trotted on the ILP platform yesterday.
One higher point of the election season saw senior party representatives of the ILP, UNC, PNM and MSJ participating in a debate on the role of local government, which piqued the interest of the population. Unfortunately, few of the ideas raised at the debate found their way onto the public platforms as topics of sustained discussion with people.
A disappointment came with the cancellation of the second debate, which was to be among party leaders. There was an impasse between the Debates Commission and the People's Partnership over Prime Minister Kamls Persad-Bissessar's decision that the Partnership would be represented by Prakash Ramadhar, political leader of the Congress of the People (COP).
Jack Warner pulled out of the debate because Persad-Bissessar was not participating. PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley said he would have participated only if Persad-Bissessar's absence was "duly noted" and Warner was also present. Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) political leader David Abdulah said he would have honoured his commitment to debate. He expressed disappointment in the action of the party leaders.
A poll by the North American Teacher's Association has predicted that votes tomorrow would be split, giving the PNM the edge.The elections tomorrow will determine who will govern the 14 municipalities for the next three years.–with reporting by Shereen Ali Shaliza Hassanali