NACTA: Hold Barataria bye-election now

An ongoing opinion survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) has found that residents of a Barataria constituency in the San Juan/ Laventille Regional Corporation want Government to immediately hold a bye-election to fill the seat left vacant since last July.

The vacancy was caused by the sudden death of Pernell Bruno, a popular representative of the constituency and the corporation.

In a release yesterday, NACTA said the findings of the latest poll showed that if an election were to be held now, the incumbent PNM was likely to hold on to the seat because of the outstanding representation provided by the deceased who was well-liked and respected.

“Voters say they want to reward Bruno for his hard work servicing the area. As such, voters are likely to deliver sympathy votes to any potential PNM candidate as Bruno successor.”

NACTA said, before his passing, Bruno enjoyed the highest favourability and performance rating of all representatives in the corporation in last June’s NACTA poll. NACTA said, at 70 per cent, it was probably the highest rating of all local and national representatives. Bruno was liked by both UNC and PNM supporters and would have won the local seat again had he lived and sought re-election because he “services” the area.

“Many even suggested his name as PNM parliamentary candidate for Barataria for the next general election. Many UNC supporters said they would have supported him because ‘he used to deliver on requests made to him.’ Elderly voters say he was probably the best representative in the history of that constituency.”

NACTA said virtually every resident interviewed in Barataria said Bruno “has done a lot” for the area and they all agreed his representation would be a very hard act to follow by any successor.

“Nevertheless, everyone polled feel the four months vacancy should be immediately filled as it is long overdue. Voters say the PNM is not facing any threat of losing the seat because of the ground work done by Bruno although replacing him would be a very hard act.”

NACTA also reported that people in Barataria, as indeed all other constituencies, were not pleased with the latest budget and the proposed property tax and revenue authority. These findings will be released in a subsequent report, NACTA said.