NACTA: Lack of enthusiasm for Local Government Elections

The most recent survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association is showing a widespread lack of enthusiasm among voters for the political parties in the upcoming July 14 local government elections. 

Voter turnout is projected to be the lowest in a decade. Voters feel that the campaign is low-key and is not focussing on local issues that are of real serious  concern to the people.  Voters are of the view that the local bodies have virtually no power and they express an almost complete lack of confidence in the local governments making any significant difference in the quality of life in their neighbourhoods. And they also express the view that the central government has usurped most of the power of the local governments to make their continued existence meaningless. Voters are calling for local government reform that will  shift power away from the central government and empower the local bodies. NACTA’s latest poll was conducted to find out opinion on issues relating to  the local government elections.

The survey was coordinated by Vishnu Bisram, a pollster and newspaper columnist in New York. The poll is showing growing voter apathy that will result in a lower turnout than in 1999 when less than a third of eligible voters cast ballots. But the PNM will have a much higher turnout of its supporters than the UNC and as such the PNM is projected to rout the UNC even in its backyard. The low turnout is attributed to widespread discontent with both the ruling PNM and the opposition UNC for their inability to work together to tackle a host of critical issues that impact on the well being of the nation, a release stated. This has caused most of the voters to tune out from the politics and the campaign. Respondents said the parties are fighting each other for power while crime is rampant and quality of  living is declining.

The public posturing of the PNM and UNC and their trading of allegations of corruption have turned off a lot of voters who feel that both parties are only interested in power and that they lack a genuine concern to address the problems of the nation. On the issue of corruption, an overwhelming majority of  voters (from all ethnic groups) is of the view that corruption has now become a part of the politics of the country.  Respondents (including a majority of  PNM supporters) are disenchanted with the PNM for not moving fast enough to crack down on corruption and to prosecute officials  who were or are allegedly involved in corruption. Many are questioning whether the PNM is genuine in its promise to provide good governance and its expressed commitment to prosecute the corrupt.  In fact, a majority of respondents (from all races and ethnic groups) believe a deal has been made “to let off” the alleged corrupt of the former  UNC government.