By Sean Douglas, Ria Taitt, Charleen Thomas and Clint Chan Tack
Newsday/TT

The ruling PNM yesterday scored a sweeping victory over the Opposition UNC, by winning nine out of 14 councils and tying in one, with the UNC retaining four councils in yesterday's local government elections. This was despite expected low voter turnout throughout the country. According to preliminary results, the PNM marched into the UNC heartland of Central Trinidad, winning three of the eight seats of the Chaguanas Borough Council - Enterprise South which it already held, and swinging from the UNC Enterprise North, Edinburgh/ Longdenville, barely losing Montrose where it got 1116 votes to the UNC's 1649. In Sangre Grande, which was formerly four UNC to three PNM seats, the PNM took all four UNC seats to win the seven seats and control of the corporation. The PNM were celebrating one hour after polls closed, and MP for Toco/Manzanilla Roger Boynes told Newsday "victory was an historic one, since it was the first time that the PNM had swept the region." Rio Claro/Mayaro saw a tie, with the PNM and UNC each winning three seats (unlike in 1999 where the UNC held five seats and the PNM just one). The PNM, by taking the Apex/Fyzabad seat from the UNC and retaining its four seats, seized control of Siparia.

In Princes Town, formerly all held by the UNC, the PNM swung two of the seven seats — Hindustan/Indian Walk/St Mary's and Moruga. The PNM, with candidate Rhonda John, also picked up the California/Point Lisas seat in UNC-held Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo. The party also picked up a seat in the Penal/Debe Corporation, which meant, according to party organiser, Senator Martin Joseph that the PNM now had a seat in each corporation. The PNM won about 80 of the 126 seats, as projected by party chairman Dr Lenny Saith who in an interview last night at Balisier House, while results were coming in said, "Our objective in this election was to improve our position to 80 seats. We are very much on target." However, UNC leader Basdeo Panday said last night, "I was surprised the PNM didn't win more seats, given the extent of their corruption. We have not lost to the extent that the PNM lost in 1996." UNC Chairman, Wade Mark, said yesterday's election would either make or break the UNC. Speaking to reporters at Rienzi Complex last night, he claimed that money and other perks were used to influence voters in Sangre Grande. He said he was dissatisfied with the voter turnout rated between just 30 to 35 percent compared to 42 per cent when the UNC was in office, blaming it on an election-weary public. Mark claimed voter intimidation but less than in the last General Election.

He complained about polling irregularities at the Couva/ Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation, saying 102 ballots for Claxton Bay/ Pointe-a-Pierre electoral district were erroneously placed in the ballot box for Balmain/Esperanza/Forres Park. The EBC suspended voting there, to be reopened later today. Mark called it "a very unusual development", saying that possibly PNM elements were seeking to undermine the EBC. One bright spot for the UNC was the election to San Fernando Borough Council of former Senator Carol Cuffie-Dowlat who contested San Fernando East constituency against Prime Minister Patrick Manning in the 2002 general election. Meanwhile Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar said: "This is a clear indication, the UNC as a party has to sit down and look at the results. We have to see what needs to be done but all is not lost."