NACTA: UNC faces tough race in Chaguanas

This, despite dissatisfaction with the performance of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) Government, the poll said.

NACTA said the findings of the ongoing opinion poll in Chaguanas were obtained from interviews with 200 likely voters to reflect the demographic composition of the population of the central borough.

The poll was conducted by Dr Vishnu Bisram.

The UNC currently controls Chaguanas through outside support.

Of the eight elected seats in the borough, the UNC controls three seats, the PNM three and ILP, two;.

But one ILP member crossed over to the UNC giving it four seats. Of the four aldermen, ILP has two and PNM and UNC, one each. Seven seats are needed for control of the borough’s 12 to make decisions.

The UNC, with support from five members, had been running the borough as a minority administration since October 2013.

However, the party has been on the back-foot to capture 12 seats to regain majority control in the upcoming election.

According to the findings of the survey, the UNC is projected to comfortably win four seats and the PNM two seats with two seats too close to call.

It found that the ILP and other forces were not projected to win any seats and will lose their deposits.

“ In terms of aldermen, the PNM and UNC are projected to win two aldermen each although final determination will be based on turnout and the percentage of votes each party wins,” the poll said.

“If the PNM captures the two closely fought seats, then the two parties will be tied with six seats each. This will be a setback for the UNC in its rebuilding efforts to win a general election” In such a tied scenario, the parties will have to spin lots to determine control of the borough. The poll said it was conceivable for the UNC to get three aldermen and control the borough with seven seats. “But this can only will be based on turnout,” the poll said.

“Supporters of the UNC are not enthused to vote in the elections whereas supporters of PNM are motivated to come out to vote giving the party a good chance to capture four elected seats and two aldermen.” The poll found that only a corresponding high voter turnout in UNC strongholds can prevent PNM political encroachment in the borough.

Many traditional UNC supporters, according to the poll, have indicated they will vote for PNM even though they are unhappy with the party’s governance.

“The saving grace for the UNC is its Mayor (Gopaul) Boodhan who has strong approval ratings and good cross party appeals, and he could lead the party to a six seat victory if he can bring out his supporters,” the poll said.

Princes Town returning officer has new office Meanwhile, in another development yesterday, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) advised in a statement that the office of Leonard Fraser, the returning officer for the electoral district of Corinth/Cedar Hill, Inverness and Princes Town South in the Princes Town Regional Corporation for the Local Government election has been relocated to 39, Naparima/Mayaro Road, Cocoyea Village, San Fernando.

The EBC’s communications manager Dominic Hinds said Fraser’s office was located previously at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) campus, Corinth Teacher’s College, Corinth Road, Corinth.