ROWLEY STIRS TALK OF EARLY POLL

SEVERAL political activities by the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) are fuelling speculation of a general election within the next few months.

The PNM is quickening the pace of screening of candidates to complete the exercise and schedule a party convention in the upcoming weeks.

The party has also ordered at least 75,000 election T-shirt and various other paraphernalia.

The school term, which normally closes on the second Friday of December, will this year end on December 6.

This has prompted conjecture that school premises are being made available to serve as polling stations in mid-December.

But the Ministry of Education has said that December 6 completes a 14-week school term.

Several infrastructural projects –such as widening of part of Hochoy Highway – are being scheduled for formal opening in December.

The Ministry of Works and Transport is speeding up a number of ventures, including the Valencia to Toco upgrade, river clearing, metal rails on highways and other long-promised measures.

The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government is undertaking various projects, which include improvements in the marginal Moruga-Tableland constituency. 

An announcement on Petrotrin’s lease or sale is also on the timetable.

The Housing Development Corporation, which has 20 ongoing projects, is cranking up its distribution programme.

The final part of the San Fernando Foreshore project has begun, with several workers being drawn from the Marabella Trainline community, which voted against PNM in the most recent local government election.

The Ministry of Youth and National Service is heavily funded and is providing loans and grants in urban communities.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has stepped up his political appearances, such as his recent session in the La Horquetta community.

Sports and family days and other community activities are being held by every PNM constituency executive.

Party top brass attended a meeting of the Oropouche East constituency last weekend, and canvassing details were outlined.

The 2024-25 Budget, which is expected to be read in early October, will provide government ministries with fresh funds for important and urgent projects.

The deficit budget is almost sure to be revised in the middle of the fiscal year but by that time ministries would have carried out election spending.

The PNM would soon engage in bulk-buying of media time for its public messaging, according to informed sources.

There are ongoing party surveys of the issues impacting residents in tightly contested swing constituencies.

If the election is to be held this year, it must be called no later than early November.

But Rowley is due to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa from October 21 to 25.

If the electorate is not taken to the polls this year, it is unlikely that they will vote before Carnival 2025, to be held on March 3 and 4.

No local general election has ever taken place during the Christian austerity period of Lent, which follows Carnival for 40 days.

Easter Sunday is April 30, after which there are no major festivals for several months.  

Rowley would have that vacant period for the constitutionally stipulated 35-day campaign and polling day.

The 2020 general election was held on August 10.

The national constitution offers a three-month window following the anniversary date for the mandatory staging of the election.