00:00The debate on the Municipal Co-operations Amendment Bill 2026 begins in the Parliament on Wednesday, giving the public a
00:08closer look into the legislation, which is intended to reform Trinidad's local government structure.
00:14One of the primary changes will be the creation of three new corporations, the boroughs of Barataria, Coover and St.
00:22Augustine, as well as the elevation of Shugwanis to city status.
00:26It's a move, local government minister Khadija Amin says. It's all about bringing back equity and fairness.
00:34This, in my view, is meaningful change that treats with issues of inequity over the years that was decided by
00:44a PNM cabinet to shift the boundaries to accommodate the PNM.
00:49The UNC has been talking about this disparity in funding in terms of the population size, the demographic, in terms
00:59of the geographic size as well.
01:01And this has been an issue for many years.
01:05This is an opportunity to bring back fairness into the system.
01:10Cities, boroughs and regional corporations, that's three categories that should have, you know, similar size, similar developmental focus, similar in
01:22terms of the resources that are being given to them.
01:27Amin says the amendments also address legal nuances which have recently resurfaced.
01:32For instance, how do you select a mayor or chairman when you have an even number of councillors?
01:40How do you treat with ensuring that the will of the majority is done in that case?
01:46We have had an instance in Sandy Grandy in 2019, for instance, where, you know, there was a whole legal
01:54dispute and the law did not allow the court.
01:57There was no way to make a ruling that is being corrected in this bill.
02:02We also have the situation with councillors and aldermen where councillors or aldermen more or less cross the floor or
02:10they resign or they are expelled from the party that select them.
02:13Should they continue to serve where they would have won on a particular party's ticket and change the allegiance and
02:22the people who voted for them on that party's ticket, do they have to continue with them?
02:28Local government elections are constitutionally due by mid-2027.
02:33It is my view that the EBC will have enough time to implement.
02:38There are set formulas for them to decide on electoral districts within regional corporations.
02:45The parliament makes a decision in terms of the number of seats in a borough and then they have their
02:51work to do.
02:51And from time to time, the EBC often has increased allocations when they have a period of a lot of
02:59activities.
03:00So that is not an issue where they would source personnel, training and other resources to ensure that things are
03:09in place for elections.
03:10So I have no doubt that EBC has more than enough time to prepare.
03:15Minister Meen claims that PNM stakeholders declined to participate in consultations on the matter.
03:21But she notes, tomorrow's vote will go on.
03:25I do know from my conversation with several of them that they were in agreement that some of the regions
03:31are too large and should be split.
03:35But they did not take the opportunity to make their recommendations.
03:38So the opposition had the opportunity to make suggestions and to be part of the consultations.
03:46And they failed to do so.
03:49But of course, we have a debate and they could have their word and have their say in parliament and
03:54then we vote.
03:55The bill is expected to be passed with the government's majority.
04:00Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
