MND says Manning 'fraid he loses local govt elections

Speaking in the House of Representatives last week, the Prime Minister said the life of the nation’s local government bodies would be extended by one year to facilitate wide-ranging constitutional reforms. The life of those bodies was constitutionally due to expire on July 13.

In a statement yesterday, MND political leader Garvin Nicholas expressed the party’s disgust with Manning’s announcement and described it as an attempt to hoodwink the population. “It is apparent that the high-priced government pollsters are on the button with regards to the sentiment of the population and that is the real reason for the postponement,” he claimed.

He argued that Government has been unable to convince the Opposition to agree on minor constitutional amendments and would be unlikely to get the Opposition to agree to significant amendments that could “put more power into the hands of this Prime Minister.” Nicholas said Government will use the postponement of local government polls as a ploy to seek a special majority and move to call a general election if the Opposition does not support its constitution reform efforts and after it presents the 2006/2007 Budget in Parliament later this year.

Meanwhile, Trinidadian-born US businessman Mike Sims said his new political party, the National Democratic Party will be launched in Kelly Village, Caroni on July 29. Sims expressed confidence that his party will defeat the PNM and UNC in the next general election.