Local Elections on time: PM Kamla

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar: "We had always said that we would hold elections when they are due
and that is my intention, so to do.”

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Tuesday made it clear that the Local Government Election will be held before the end of October, when it is constitutionally due.

This is in keeping with her pledge during and after the 2010 election campaigns to always hold elections when they are due. 

She told local media several cabinet ministers wanted her to postpone the vote but she disagreed with their views. "The local government elections will be held within the time-frame set by law," she said at her constituency office in Penal, where she met with members of the Lady Hochoy Home.

She added, "There will be no postponement of the elections. Some people felt that we should postpone it. I am not of that view. I believe we owe it to the electorate.”

Persad-Bissessar reminded reporters of a promise she made to the electorate during the general election campaign of 2010. "We had always said that we would hold elections when they are due and it is my intention to do so,” she stated.

She stated that holding the election on time was more important than the result. "Win, lose or draw, we must keep the promises we made to the people and the rest will fall into place," she declared.

She reiterated her commitment to keeping a promise to the people. "There are some within my own organisation that think we should (postpone), even within the Cabinet, that think we should postpone," she stated. "Look, when you came in (to government) you said you will do one, two, three. And those are the things we are doing.”

The Prime Minister also stated that she plans to share with the public amendments to the local government legislation currently under consideration by cabinet. However she said it is not necessary to stop the process because while the reforms are under review.

She reminded reporters that the previous Manning People’s National Movement administration postponed elections three times saying it was because it was considering reforms.

Persad-Bissessar also commented on the result of the Chaguanas West by-election. She said Jack Warner's victory gave all the MPs a lesson. "They became very concerned, dealing with governance and forgot the ground. And they are back out on the ground," she said.