Jensen La Vende
Senior Investigative Reporter
jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the results of yesterday’s Local Government Elections could have been worse after the party emerged victorious in seven of the corporations it contested, maintaining the status quo from the December 2019 election.
Speaking to the media at Balisier House, the headquarters of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), he dismissed the thought that the party maintaining seven districts was a loss.
“My grandmother taught me that no matter how the situation is, it could easily have been so much worse. We are quite happy to not have been defeated or to have lost significant ground or any ground at all in the middle of our second term as government.”
Rowley said there were highlights that needed to be mentioned, one of them being the PNM winning the Lengua/Indian Walk seat in the Princes Town Regional Corporation. This, he said, was historic as PNM had never won a seat in that corporation before. He said the PNM was overjoyed with that win.
The Prime Minister said the PNM fought hard for the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, but it still went to the UNC.
He said he was happy that the election was “now behind us.” He said it was water under the bridge and he was now looking forward to the general election in 2025.
Speaking during the launch of the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) on Sunday, Farley Augustine, Tobago House of Assembly chief secretary and TPP political leader, called on Rowley to call a general election soon.
Without being asked, Rowley responded to that saying he will call the general election when it is constitutionally due.
“We have absolutely no doubt and no fear that the next election will be vigorously fought. But let us not waste time trying to fight that election before it becomes due. Regardless of who comes, the PNM will be there to contest every seat, in every election.
“One thing that the PNM has done tonight, we’ve added two more political parties to the list of parties defeated by the PNM.”
Rowley said the aim now is to usher in local government reform and bring about the devolution of power that was promised.
He added that the reform will have to be transitioned and he called on everyone, including opposition MPs and councillors, to work with the PNM to bring about the reform.
“This election is over. My invitation tonight is come do the best for your community. Come do your best for your burgess. Come do the best for your corporation. Come do the best for your borough. Come do your the best for your city.
“And if we all do that, we would have done the best for T&T. We have serious work to do as a nation and we in the government, we are responsible for making decisions and had to make a number of decisions that did not find favour with people who were affected.”
Rowley poked fun at Watson Duke’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which failed to gain a seat in the Port of Spain City Corporation.
During his campaign Duke touted himself as the next mayor of the city.
Rowley said: “We won all the seats in Port-of-Spain, so the shocking new mayor as promised is not to be had. We won significantly in San Juan/Laventille. We won handsomely in Piarco/Tunapuna. We tied one seat in Arima otherwise we would have all seats in Arima and, of course, we won all the seats in Point Fortin.”
Rowley addressed the media at 10 pm. It was his first visit to Balisier House since construction began on the new building. Tranquility Street was blocked off for celebrations, but it was not needed as those gathered could have easily filled the courtyard of the PNM’s long-time headquarters.
Education officer of PNM Laurel Lee Sing-Lezema said the low turnout was due to the membership heeding the call to keep local government local by remaining in their respective communities and not congregating at Balisier House.
Vendors, expecting huge sales, were left disappointed as PNM supplied free food and drinks to those gathered.
Rowley’s message to the country was simple: “Come let us build a nation.”