The People’s National Movement has accused the Government of attempting to reshape Trinidad’s local government map for political advantage through the creation of three additional municipal corporations.
Laventille West MP Karim Marcel claimed the proposed Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill would increase the number of corporations from 14 to 17, including new corporations covering Barataria, Couva and St Augustine.
Marcel alleged that the proposed boundaries were designed around areas where the UNC traditionally performs strongly, describing the changes as an attempt to consolidate favourable voting areas into separate corporations.
He said the PNM had reviewed the proposed boundaries against recent electoral results and believed the changes would place what he described as UNC “safe seats” within strategically created corporations.
The Government has presented the changes as part of reforms to improve the operation and delivery of local government services.
Marcel rejected that explanation, describing the legislation as a political attempt to manipulate the electoral map ahead of the next local government election.
