Diego Martin North/East MP Colm Imbert says a proposed restriction on councillors and aldermen crossing the floor was introduced in response to defections that altered the political balance within the Siparia Corporation.
Imbert said the legislation contains provisions intended to address situations where elected local government representatives leave the political party under which they were elected.
He pointed specifically to Siparia, where he said a UNC councillor and a UNC alderman resigned from the party and joined the PNM.
According to Imbert, the subsequent death of another UNC councillor contributed to the PNM gaining the majority within the corporation.
He argued that the new provision is therefore politically motivated and intended to prevent similar changes in future.
Later in the press conference, when asked for the PNM’s position on floor-crossing generally, Imbert said the matter should be subject to national consultation. He said there were arguments both for and against allowing elected representatives to change parties while remaining in office.
