PNM, UNC, NSA big spenders in Local Govt election

According to a statement of election expenses issued by the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the largest sum of money expended by any candidate in last November’s election was $25,000.

However according to the EBC’s statement, this sum was not connected to one candidate but cut across party lines.

The candidates spending $25,000 were Aaron Mohammed (PNM; Claxton Bay/ Pointe-a-Pierre, Couva/Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation); Catherine Mendez (PNM; St Lucien/Cameron Hill, Diego Martin Regional Corporation); Marsha Jaimungal- Khan (UNC; Debe East/L’Esperance/Union Hall, Penal/Debe Corporation); Anil Juteram (UNC; Vega De Oropouche, Sangre Grande Regional Corporation); Ravi Lakhan (NSA; Vega De Oropouche, Sangre Grande Regional Corporation); Nirmal Singh ( UNC; Cumuto/Tamana, Sangre Grande Regional Corporation).

Mendez is the deputy chairperson of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation.

The lowest expenditure by any candidate in the elections was $0. That distinction belonged to Kwesi Junior Antoine of the PNM who contested the Caledonia /Upper Malick district in the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation.

The PNM won the local government polls, retaining seven of the 14 local government corporations it won in 2013. The UNC retained the six corporations it won in the 2013 polls.

Both parties tied in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, with the PNM eventually retaining control of that corporation.