[UPDATED] Local govt elections on Dec 2

THE Prime Minister yesterday announced that local government elections will be held on December 2.

Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein said the PNM was optimistic of retaining control of all the corporations it currently holds. He made the comment before going on a walkabout in Pleasantville with San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello. Hosein said the motion to debate the Elections and Boundaries (Local Government and Tobago House of Assembly) Order 2019 was listed on yesterday’s House order paper. The order deals, in part, with boundary changes to some local government districts. The motion was scheduled to be debated yesterday evening after it was deferred from Monday when Finance Minister Colm Imbert presented the 2020 budget,

On whether the Local Government Reform Bill 2019 would be passed, proclaimed and implemented before December 2, Hosein said the bill remains before a joint select committee (JSC) chaired by Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat. “The work of the JSC is expected to be substantially completed by the date of the local government elections.” Hosein said a final review of the bill will be done after the budget debate.

On October 3, PNM public relations officer (PRO) Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing said the party had wrapped up its screening exercise for the elections. The PNM will present its full slate of candidates at its convention on November 10.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters during the lunch break in the House that the UNC will be ready “wherever and whenever” the elections are called. On October 1, UNC PRO Anita Haynes said 600 people presented themselves to the party for screening as local government candidates.

MSJ political leader David Abdulah said the party anticipated elections in December. He said the MSJ continues to screen candidates and will determine which corporations it will contest. Abdulah did not believe local government reform “will see the light of day” before December 2.

COP political leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan said the party is still screening candidates. But she added preparations for the elections were difficult with no one knowing whether local government reform legislation would be implemented before December 2. Saying one of the things the bill proposes is full-time councillors, Seepersad-Bachan said one issue is finding people willing to give up their jobs for four years to be a councillor.

ILP leader Rekha Ramjit declined to comment on the elections.

In the November 28, 2016 local government elections, the PNM won the Port of Spain City, San Fernando City, Sangre Grande Regional, Diego Martin Regional, Tunapuna/Piarco Regional, Point Fortin Borough, Arima Borough and San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporations. The UNC won the Siparia Regional, Penal/Debe Regional, Princes Town Regional, Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional, Chaguanas Borough and Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporations.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

LOCAL government elections will be held on December 2. The PM said the writs of elections shall be issued in due course.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.

The life of local government corporations comes to an end in November. The last local government elections were held on November 28, 2016. The ruling PNM currently controls eight of the country's 14 local government corporations. The opposition UNC controls the remaining six corporations. The PNM last month said it has completed its screening of local government candidates. The party will announce its candidates at its annual convention on November 10.

The UNC has said it is nearly completed its local government screening. Other political parties, such at the MSJ and COP, are still screening candidates. Progressive Party leader Nikolai Edwards said his party will not be contesting the local government elections.