PNM has edge in Siparia by-election

THE RULING PNM has a slight edge over the Opposition UNC as the build-up to the July 18 San Francique East/Siparia South by-election continues. According to a preliminary survey done by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) over the last few days, the PNM has an advantage over the UNC and is tipped to retain control of the seat it won in the 2003 Local Government elections. However the NACTA said it shows the ruling party has little room for complacency as the UNC’s support base within the electoral district has been energised and the race between the two main political parties is tightening. The survey added that the main question remains whether in fact the UNC’s supporters will turn out to vote on July 18. Further information shall be released in a subsequent survey.

The contest for the San Francique/Siparia East seat is a three-way race between the PNM’s Ivan St Clair, UNC’s Christine Rogers Deonarine-singh and the NAR’s Lee Aberdeen. NAR political leader Lennox Sankersingh said the party has made no arrangement with the UNC to join forces against the PNM for the upcoming polls and believes Aberdeen’s chances of victory are good. To date, the PNM has been holding a series of cottage meetings in the district while the UNC has opted for a strategy of mass public meetings. Victory for the PNM would allow the ruling party to maintain its 5-3 status quo within and control of the Siparia Regional Corporation.

However an Opposition victory, would result in a 4-4 tie with the PNM in the corporation and lots will have to be drawn to decide which party gains control. The PNM currently controls nine of the country’s 14 local government corporations. The 2003 Local Government polls saw the ruling party holding on to the corporations it already held, gaining control of Sangre/Grande and Siparia and gaining seats in UNC controlled corporations where it traditionally had none.