Subscription to Newsletter
Media InSite News is a monthly educational newsletter distributed free via email to executives, managers & professionals in communications, public relations (PR) marketing, customer service and media.
Member of
The T&T Local Government Elections was held in Trinidad & Tobago on August 14th and the results remain unchanged from 2019 where there was a tie between the ruling People’s National Movement 7-7 United National Congress. These results indicate that there is no major change in power balance. Out of the 141 seats, the UNC won 72 and the PNM 69, a slight change of the 2019 election where the PNM had won 72 and the UNC 67.
The smaller parties failed to get any of the seats that they contested.
Analysis
The United National Congress made significant gains over the People’s National Movement opening up a lead in the popular vote at the polls. The PNM kept the Diego Martin, Port of Spain, San Juan/Laventille, Tunapuna/Piarco, Arima, Port Fortin and San Fernando corporations, while the UNC retained Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Siparia, Sangre Grande and Chaguanas.
In the 2019 local government election, the PNM won all the seats in the Diego Martin, Port of Spain, Point Fortin and Arima corporations. However, in 2023, the PNM won all but Arima where it got six of the seven seats as there is a tie. There will have to be a recount there. Although both main political parties campaigned vigorously, preliminary reports suggest the voter turnout remained at the traditional 30%, suggesting that no campaign sufficiently moved the electorate to come out in larger numbers.
The Campaign
Media Insite dashboard gave us further insights into the social media aspect of the local government campaigning. For the period July 14th – August 14th, 2023 there was a total of 2.5K mentions with an engagement of 41.1K, with the most mentions on the LGE day itself garnering over 775 on the record.
The Opposition United National Congress had the edge with 39.2% and overall, the Share of Sentiment was neutral 67.1%. One of the more interesting finds by our data showed the Emotions Over Time as being 47.4% angry.
Conversation on Social Media platforms were dominated by males 62.6% between the ages 25-34 years. Most of the conversation was carried out on Twitter.
The most shared news article done by CNC3 News, on Instagram showing the embattled founder of the former political party ILP, Jack Warner who made a political “tackback” with the UNC. (4.3K likes)
The UNC made notable gains in the San Fernando district, which is close to site of the former oil refinery owned by Petrotrin (the state oil firm), which the government closed in 2018. The results may show weakened support for the government of the prime minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, but the vote follows years of poor economic conditions tied to falling gas output and the COVID 19 pandemic. Yesterday’s low voter turnout also means that local government elections are not a reliable guide to voter preferences ahead of the general election, which are due no later than early December 2025. Approximately 1,078,651 people were eligible to vote in the local government elections.
Let us know in the comments what else you would like to know about the T&T Local Government Elections.
Follow us over on Linkedin here –> Linkedin Page.
Media InSite News is a monthly educational newsletter distributed free via email to executives, managers & professionals in communications, public relations (PR) marketing, customer service and media.
Member of
Media InSite Ltd. the Global
Leader in real-time Caribbean
Media Intelligence.
Media InSite Ltd.
ESG Business Suites,
9-11 Fitt Street,
Woodbrook, Port of Spain,
Trinidad and Tobago
Tel +1 868 225-4MIS
Copyright © 2023 Media InSite. All Rights Reserved. Designed by Upotive Ltd.
Fill out the form below and we will contact you to arrange your discovery call and set up a demo.
