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Snap vote looms in Trinidad

Posted by CaribShout on April 5, 2010 at 10:51pm

Trinidad and Tobago is on alert for a general election that could be called as early as May. Prime Minister Patrick Manning caused mild surprise when he put the country on notice in a speech to supporters on 27 March. The Prime Minister need not hold an election before early 2013, under local law. Some analysts have even suggested that he could announce a date on Friday during debate of an opposition motion of no confidence against him. Mr Manning cited the motion as the reason for his poll decision. He told supporters that "when they file the motion of no confidence, what they are really saying is that they want an election. If they feel that the time has come for a general election, then I agree." Accountable A BBC Caribbean reporter in Port of Spain said unconfirmed media speculation says Mr Manning and his Peoples National Movement (PNM) are eyeing a vote in May, the earliest it can be held. The no-confidence motion was filed shortly after the chairman of the state-run Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott), Calder Hart, resigned over allegations of improper dealings. The opposition argues that Mr Manning should be held accountable as well, as he appointed Mr Hart. Some commentators have reacted with scepticism to the election notice, suggesting the Prime Minister was engaging in political posturing to wrong-foot the splintered opposition. The main opposition United National Congress (UNC) and the breakaway Congress of the People (COP) have been holding unity talks since lawyer Kamla Persad-Bissessar won the UNC leadership in January. "Public posturing" The COP split from the UNC in 2006. Political analyst, Derek Ramsamooj, says the election alert may amount to little more than a ruse to test the resolve of the opposition. He told Reuters: "On the previous occasion (1995) when he called a snap election, Mr Manning lost and I think he would have learned his lesson from it. So I think the prime minister's public posturing of contemplating calling general elections is part of a political strategy." Others say the Prime Minister may be hoping that the election will come too early for the opposition to present a united front against him. Mr Manning, who has been in power for 13 of the past 17 years, comfortably won the last poll in November 2007 against a divided opposition. But he'll be aware that the combined UNC and COP vote was greater than his. Leadership qualities One unknown factor in the next poll, whenever it is called, will be the role of veteran politician Basdeo Panday, the former Prime Minister who was ousted by Mrs Persad-Bissessar after a bruising internal contest. Mr Panday has questioned the leadership qualities of his successor, the first woman to lead a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Mrs Persad-Bissessar feels the Prime Minister had no choice in facing the people because of his plunging popularity in opinion polls. “He faces unparalleled revolt from the party faithful across the country, as well as from some members of his cabinet. It is the first time that a sitting Prime Minister has been booed and jeered on walkabouts even in traditional hardcore PNM areas,” she said.
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Tags: snap, trinidad, caribbean, in, looms, people, politics, vote

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