Although the PNM lost Sangre Grande in last Monday's Local Government Elections, its Grande election co-ordinator Indar Parasram has been chosen to become PNM's alderman in UNC-held Couva corporation.
Guardian Media confirmed the situation Saturday as PNM and UNC began selecting aldermen for the seven corporations. Both parties tied in elections with seven each out of the 14 corporations. PNM won 74 seats and UNC 65. UNC won the popular vote in the voter turnout of 34.49 per cent.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission informed parties last Thursday of the number of aldermen assigned to parties. This is worked out based on the proportional representation formula in the Municipal Corporations Act. But up to last Friday EBC hadn't publicly stated any official list of the numbers of aldermen. Parties must submit aldermen's names to EBC by Wednesday.
Aldermen, mayors and councillors are expected to be sworn in by the end of next week. PNM last Friday cancelled planned swearing in of councillors for a handful of corporations.
The PNM began notifying those chosen as aldermen at the end of last week. PNM alderman Parasram (PNM's elections officer) was selected by the party to become PNM's lone alderman in the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo corporation which UNC won, it was confirmed.
He has never served as an alderman in his career. Parasram's name was among 13 others which the PNM had submitted to the EBC as alderman nominees for Couva.
Parasram (URP's programme director) unsuccessfully co-ordinated Sangre Grande for PNM which UNC won. Both tied for that seat in the 2016 LG polls and it was heavily targeted by both in last Monday's poll. The largest delegation at PNM's November convention came from Sangre Grande, PNM PRO Laurel Lezama Lee Sing had said last week.
PNM NAMES
PNM sources are watching certain names for possible alderman appointment in some areas including:
•Cagney Cassimire, Herman Noel, Dave Maraj (ARIMA).
•Joel Martinez, Asha Permanand, Wendell Stephens, Akil Durham (POS).
•Junia Regrello, Abigail Cox (SAN FERNANDO).
•Anthony Roberts, Sharon Felix, Shakeer Ali (SAN JUAN/LAVENTILLE).
•Carlos Browne (CHAGUANAS).
•Irene Hinds, Susan Hong, Sigler Jack (DIEGO MARTIN).
•Arvind Moonan (MAYARO/RIO CLARO).
•Donald Denoon, Saleema Thomas, Joanne Bowen-Delycia, Leslie Chang Fong (POINT FORTIN).
•Onika Haynes, Kwesi Robinson, Natalie Figaro, Clayton Blackman (TUNAPUNA/PIARCO).
•Chris Encinas (SIPARIA).
Meanwhile, UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar meets Sunday with MPs, Senators and UNC's LG candidates to discuss alderman choices. The party was assigned 27 places for aldermen. Party officials said the UNC will have a mix of new and experienced aldermen. Despite winning no seats in Diego Martin, UNC will have an alderman in Diego Martin for the first time since 2010.
UNC NAMES
UNC sources are watching some names in certain areas:
•Ravi Ratiram, Parasram Ramoutar, Camille Elie-Govind (COUVA/TABAQUITE /TALPARO).
•Raymond Cozier, Ruth Ali-Mohammed, Vedaish Maharaj ( MAYARO/RIO CLARO).
•Luke Bahadoorsingh, Indra Castillo (SAN FERNANDO).
•Allen Sammy, Marsha Khan, Sankar Persad (PENAL DEBE).
•Glen Ramadharsingh, Chanardaye Ramadharsingh (SIPARIA).
•Clifton de Coteau, Phillip Gonzales, Amrith Bassarat (PRINCES TOWN)
•Darren Ali, Susan Holder (SANGRE GRANDE).
•Kevan Gibbs, Yannic Lezama (TUNAPUNA/PIARCO).
•Brent Hector (DIEGO MARTIN).
•Marissa Ramlogan, Andell Paramsook, Marlon Millington (CHAGUANAS).
•Nazeemool Mohammed (SAN JUAN/LAVENTILLE).
•Sheldon Garcia (ARIMA).
Last week the EBC sent to the Local Government Ministry a corrected name for UNC's Enterprise North/Esmeralda after EBC initially submitted an incorrect name. UNC general secretary Dave Tancoo wrote EBC about it and received a reply that it was corrected.
UNC chairman Peter Kanhai told Guardian Media that UNC will continue meetings with EBC ahead and seek a post-mortem of the election since various issues occurred before, during and after the election. "We hope to have these attended before general elections ahead."
He said no information was forthcoming on the status of spoiled ballots discovered before the poll and promised legal advice hadn't been received from EBC yet. He also cited voting-day issues. PNM officials said minor issues were also dealt with that day. EBC CEO Fern Narcis-Scope had said Monday EBC attended to all issues reported and there had been no cause to reprimand any party.
Vasant surprised at results, admits Kamla's stocks up
Both former PP minister Vasant Bharath and ex-PNMite Harry Ragoonanan have noted that UNC leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar's political capital has increased, and Bharath admits he was surprised at the election results.
Just before elections, Bharath said although the PNM hadn't performed well in Government, "their massive campaign would be more than sufficient to take them over the line,” and that PNM had drowned out UNC's campaign.
Last Friday, Bharath conceded, "The election registered a protest vote against PNM and everyone including me was surprised that PNM having spent that amount of money, it didn't secure more areas. PNM will be very disappointed after spending tens of millions, making it a general election campaign. The population believed there's a big disconnect between PNM and Government from the high murder rate to unemployment, the economy, etc.
"But I don't think it's cause for major elation for UNC because if this is—as they said—the worst PNM Government, we'd have expected more from UNC which didn't make inroads in the East-West Corridor. You need that to win general election so they shouldn't become over-confident.
"However, Mrs Persad-Bissessar's political capital is better than it was prior to the election and it would be foolhardy for anyone in the party to try to dislodge her. Although this isn't a win, UNC improved their position."
Bharath said he will continue doing the work he has been doing on the ground, "I don't think either party is offering to serve the people the way people want, that's why governments are changing every five years. If anyone invited me to do a post mortem on the situation, I'm willing, but I don't expect it to happen."
Ragoonanan had said at Louis Lee Sing's PPM launch in November that all smaller parties and UNC should have joined under Bharath's leadership. Saturday, Ragoonanan said, "PNM can't bring back their popularity. They spent a lot and UNC didn't and UNC still won, making inroads in PNM areas. UNC has everything necessary to win but it needs to make itself more attractive, change faces, etc.
"Anyone wishing to beat PNM has to unite and Vasant has a role to play. All smaller parties should try to get together under UNC. While Kamla Persad-Bissessar's political ratings have soared, it's whether she can take the rigours of a general election. UNC's base isn't shifting but people in the centre are seeking something to give them hope." (Gail Alexander)