Lead Editor Investigations
asha.javeed@guardian.co.tt
The Local Government Elections (LGE) of 2023 led to several political parties forming alliances and in one instance, the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), being disbanded.
While the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) has attracted former UNC members, most notably former Senator Taharqa Obika, it will compete the 2023 LGE alone. The Opposition United National Congress (UNC) lost members but gained alliances.
Former commissioner of police Gary Griffith’s National Transformation Alliance (NTA) joined with UNC after saying he would go it alone on April 13.
And a decade after he helped make Kamla Persad-Bissessar T&T’s first female Prime Minister, embattled former FIFA executive Jack Warner received a hero’s welcome back to the party.
Philip Alexander’s Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP), has gained momentum as he tries to convert his social media following into physical votes. PEP has formed an alliance with the Re-United Farmers Alliance.
Watson Duke’s Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) formed an alliance with Fuad Abu Bakr’s New National Vision. Duke wants to be the mayor of Port of Spain while Abu Bkar is going up as a councillor for Belmont North and West.
According to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) there are ten political parties competing in the LGE, with 367 candidates competing in the electoral areas.
The parties are: Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), Re-United Farmers Alliance, The National Party (TNP), Trinidad Humanity Campaign (THC), Unity of The People (UTP), UNC, NTA, PDP and PEP and PNM.
There are six independents: Belmont South—Vivian Johnson, Pleasantville—Dixie-Ann Elliot, Hollywood—Irvin Samuel Felix, Mayaro South/Guyaguayare—Kendell Michael Hagley, Valencia West—Gwendolyn Alana Charles and Blanchisseuse/Santa Rosa—Kathleen Washington.
That’s a total of 373 candidates. The PNM is the only political party with candidates in all 141 electoral districts.
How leaders fared
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has been on the defensive—whether it was defending himself from allegations being levelled by the UNC as the election race hit high-gear last week, or defending Government policy and decisions. Dr Rowley has hosted several of his “Conversations” during the build-up to explain his Government policies as the PNM built its LGE campaign on reform.
But he’s also called several press conferences, the latest being last week, to address statements made by the Opposition emanating from their decision to terminate the complaint against him.
“I just want to advise the media: Don’t let them carry you where they are going, because from today, anybody else who accuses me of not disclosing to the Integrity Commission, I will sue you to the ends of the earth,” he told the media last week.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar had a multi-pronged approach to the LGE. While she was amalgamating forces, she threw out a controversy calling on citizens to defend themselves and “empty the clip”. She was unapologetic about the statement even though it drew condemnation in some quarters.
While she was making statements in her national meetings which Finance Minister Colm Imbert called “mischievous”, UNC MP Saddam Hosein was busy keeping PM Rowley on the defensive, while Jack Warner donned a yellow T-shirt and was campaigning for her. Former attorney general Anand Ramlogan has been active in the party, winning cases against the State and collecting and releasing Freedom of Information data almost weekly.
Unlike the media blitz which usually accompanies Warner, he has been quietly doing walkabouts. Publisher of the weekly Sunshine newspaper, Warner was out of active politics before a photo was leaked by UNC councillor Adrian Ali captioned “Jack is Back” at a cottage meeting a few weeks ago.
Warner, who has been in several legal battles over the last decade, is fighting extradition to the United States where he has been indicted.
When the US Embassy was asked their thoughts on Warner’s re-emergence into local politics, a spokesperson said: “The US Embassy does not comment on active investigations.”
Warner insists that he did not rejoin the party to get out of legal troubles and said that allegation was repeatedly made against him. Griffith, a former commissioner of police, said to the best of his knowledge there were no active TTPS investigations into Warner.
The NTA has campaigned on security and safety of citizens as well as accessibility. Griffith dismissed the suggestion that the NTA is seen as a family party.
“I think that is why the NTA is so popular right now because they see us as a close-knit family working together. As a team. We are not trying to be isolated or trying to back-stab someone to try to ascend in a higher position which is what we see in the PNM,” he told the Sunday Guardian.
Alexander has been a divisive politician and he acknowledged it. He said the media has not been kind to him as he went from being a media darling to almost having a media blackout.
“The issues themselves are divisive. Trinidad is a wealthy country where the people are poor,” he said. “We’ve had political parties make promises and never deliver. The people are fed up of seeing one standard for one type of people and another standard for another type of people.”
Alexander said he was approached to be a part of the UNC coalition but declined. He explained that certain criteria have to be met in an accommodation.
“People should know what are the rules of engagement after the last people’s partnership collapse,” he said.
Abu Bakr told the Sunday Guardian yesterday that the NNV was working with the PDP in Port-of-Spain for the election which demonstrates his ability to work with others.
“The New National Vision still exists and supports our efforts with the PDP. We will begin our General Election 2025 programme soon after this local election. I have never thought of my political aspiration. The efforts I am making are to improve T&T. Whatever position I am in, I do my best for the upliftment and education of others. It’s going to take new ideas and people with a heart for their fellow men to turn our nation around,” he said.