Renuka Singh
The two major parties—the People's National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC)—are expected to present its candidates for the December 2 Local Government Elections at two rallies today.
But while the parties gear up for the big, expensive events, the leader of the Congress of the People, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan is decrying the use of financial incentives to encourage votes.
In an interview yesterday, Seepersad-Bachan said that her candidates informed her that people on the COP's campaign route told her that they are being paid to attend the rallies.
She said the lack of local government reform and campaign finance legislation meant that money would be spent unchecked by the two bigger parties for the LGE and next year for the general election.
While both the PNM and the UNC are expected to each present 139 candidates today, Seepersad-Bachan did not give the final number of candidates that the COP will present.
"I will be able to better answer that on Monday," she said.
Seepersad-Bachan said that instead of hiring big and expensive music trucks for the campaign, the COP decided to use the money to help clean up the streets and drains in the areas they are campaigning.
"Instead of disturbing the peace, the elderly and students, we decided to return to our core values and use the resources to improve the communities.
"Our party is not a part of that misspending, the country does not have that kind of money to spend on loud campaigns and big rallies," she said.
"Where is the money coming from?" Seepersad-Bachan asked.
One of the other smaller parties contesting in the LGE, the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) presented its slate of 28 candidates on November 2.
According to the list of candidates from that launch, the MSJ is focusing on the southern, western and East/West corridor of Trinidad.
The main focus tomorrow though will be on the two main parties as they present their respective slates.
In the last two Local Government Elections in 2013 and 2016, three smaller parties contested seats in the LGE including the COP, MSJ and the Independent Liberal Party (ILP)
In 2013 the COP presented 52 candidates to contest the LGE, which dropped to six candidates in 2016.
Also in 2013, the ILP presented 130 candidates, won zero seats and by 2016 presented only seven.
The MSJ in 2013 presented 16 candidates and that fell to 11 in 2016.
In 2013 the COP presented 52 candidates to contest the LGE, which dropped to six candidates in 2016.
Also in 2013, the ILP presented 130 candidates, won zero seats and by 2016 presented only seven.
The MSJ in 2013 presented 16 candidates and that fell to 11 in 2016.
The two larger contenders, the PNM and the UNC remained neck and neck at 136 and 137 in 2016 but in 2013 when the PNM presented 137 candidates, the UNC only presented 77.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the UNC, Anita Haynes said that the UNC was presenting 139 candidates today.
She said that the rally song will be performed by eight of the Local Government candidates. Both party leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and deputy political leader Jearlean John are expected to speak at the presentation.
Fellow deputy political leader and party chairman David Lee is also expected to address the supporters.
Since giving the date of the LGE back in October, the PNM held several meetings titled "Post-Budget" meetings but which took on the look and sound of an election campaign. At those events, not much of the budget was discussed and instead, the government ministers used their time on the podium to raise questions about the integrity and links to gang leaders in the Opposition.
PNM PRO Laurel Lezama Lee-Sing promised to "send something within the hour" but did not respond to subsequent texts or calls for an update on today's rally. The PNM rally is being held at the Queen's Park Savannah while the UNC is holding its rally at the Couva Multipurpose carpark.