PNM False Declaration
I note with disbelief the false and deliberately misleading claims today by PNM Chairman Franklin Khan that his party has “declared victory” in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.
Mr. Khan made these arrogant and incredible claims based on a nonsensical legal interpretation about selection of a chairman, viz., incumbency of the PNM’s SG Chairman, the “popular vote” and ‘spirit of the law’.
This is patently false and demonstrates willful ignorance and arrogance on the part of the Rowley PNM.
The facts are as follows:
The UNC clearly records victory in four seats in the SG Corporation and there is no recount for these four UNC seats;
The EBC is still to recount votes in two seats claimed by the PNM
The law makes clear provision for the manner in which a Chairman of a Corporation is to be elected and it is not for Franklyn Khan or Stuart Young or any Minister to try to change the law by press conference.
Any pre-empting of such demonstrates a shameful attempt by the PNM to mitigate its embarrassing showing in yesterday’s Local Government polls where the UNC gained at least one and a half corporations and the PNM lost over 70,000 votes from the 2013 Local Government Elections. The population has expressed dissatisfaction with the Rowley administration and no amount of PNM spin can change that fact.
The Rowley PNM is therefore being deliberately arrogant, ignorant and willfully deceptive in their declaration of victory in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation demonstrating a continuation of their modus operandi since the beginning of their term in Government.
Their claim is reckless and dangerous, as the overall intention of the Rowley PNM is to confuse the population as to the true outcome of yesterday’s polls, and appears to be a deliberate attempt to ignore the proper democratic procedures governing the Local Government process.
The fact is that the PNM has significantly lost votes, support and traction in its year long reign in Trinidad and Tobago due to its elitist, arrogant, incompetent and oppressive attitude and measures, and its overall lack of any proper policy to serve the interests of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, a fact keenly reflected in yesterday’s election process and results.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC. MP.
Leader of the Opposition