CivilNET panellists: Fresh THA election would attract more voters

Psychiatrist Dr Andel Roberts believes there will be a greater turnout at the polls if a fresh Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election is announced.

In the January 25 election, the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) each won six seats, creating an unprecedented deadlock in the assembly.

Since then, the parties have not been able to end the impasse so that the THA could be properly constituted to manage the island’s affairs.

The Government sees the passage of the THA (Amendment) Act 2021 as the best solution to end the deadlock. The legislation, which proposes to increase from 12 to 15 the number of electoral districts in Tobago, paves the way for a fresh election.

It was assented to by President Paula-Mae Weekes on March 16. But Cabinet still has to advise her on when the law should be proclaimed.

Speaking during a virtual panel discussion on Monday night, hosted by Tobago CivilNET, Roberts noted the turnout of voters was not as good as people expected. After the January election, the Elections and Boundaries Commission revealed that of an electorate of 51,062 registered voters, 26, 385 votes were cast. This reflected a turnout of 51.84 per cent.

The EBC said the PNM got 13,288 votes and the PDP received 12,798.

Roberts, a consultant at Scarborough General Hospital, said voter turnout is likely to change if a fresh election is called.

“If there is this impasse and everyone is trying to come to a common ground and it is not happening, then I think people will now be forced to come out and vote,” he said. “So I do think that people will tend to say we need this to be settled, we need this to move forward and come out and vote the second time around. I believe that is going to happen.”

Independent senator Maria Dillon-Remy agreed.

“It may push people to come forward. There are some people who may not have voted for whatever reason, who are saying now that this is here, 'I will go out and vote.'”

But she also believes some people may not be so inclined.

“I can also see some people saying, 'I am fed up of this, if I have to go back and vote now and then go back and vote again whenever that Tobago House of Assembly Internal Self-Government Bill is passed.'

“I can see some people saying, ‘Listen, this is too much for me.”

Dillon-Remy believes people are more likely to turn out to the polls with the existing 12 seats.

“I do think that if we go back with 12 seats, not with 15, then I think people will go out.

“But there has to be an agreement with the same 12 who cannot agree right now, they can come together so they can get the Assembly Legislature going.”

Dillon-Remy believes they can ask the President to return to the polls with the current 12 seats.

“If that happens, then I can see people probably saying, ‘Listen, let’s go out and give this a try again.' But with the 15 seats, I think, is a different story.”