April 28th is the day that ballot papers would be stamped, index fingers would be dipped in ink, and Polling Stations would be buzzing with activity.
While the Election Date was called just one day after new Prime Minister Stuart Young’s Cabinet was sworn-in, Political Scientist Dr. Bishnu Ragoonath said it’s a date that was on the lips of many.
“I mean, people were expecting, even last week before the PNM announced their candidates, people had predicted the 28th of April as the possible election date. It’s just a matter of keeping in line with what was suggested. As to whether or not he, that is, the issue of strategy, will really depend on whether the PNM has everything in place. I mean, they have the candidates, now they simply have to mobilise their campaign.”
Dr. Ragoonath said he wouldn’t exactly call the Election Date an advantage, noting that the Opposition may be more prepared than people may think.
“Well, the PNM will do everything in their power to gain any advantage. I mean, like I said, I will not say that the Opposition is unprepared. We’ve heard the Opposition said that they have been having consultations with various other groupings, and I would expect or would have expected that one of the reasons that they would have delayed announcing a slate of candidates was simply because they were in the process of bargaining as to which party would contest which seat.”
The Political Scientist noted that everything has been done in accordance with the law.
“We knew that it had to be called before the end of August and the new Prime Minister decided that he is going to call it at the earliest opportunity and today gives the EBC the required five weeks requirement for an election to be called. So he has done what he has to do in accordance with the law.”
Nomination Day is expected to be on Friday April 4th.