By Clint Chan Tack Monday, September 7 2009

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PNM to the bone: A PNM supporter proudly wears a tattoo of the party symbol during a political rally in Mayaro on Saturday. ...

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PEOPLE’S National Movement (PNM) chairman and Energy Minister Conrad Enill has said Prime Minister Patrick Manning is the only person who determines when an election will be held in the country.

Enill made this comment last Friday ahead of the PNM’s public meeting in Mayaro on Saturday and today’s presentation of the 2010 Budget in Parliament.

Stating he was aware of rumours circulating about a snap general election, Enill said Manning had the sole discretion to determine when an election takes place.

Enill also dismissed claims that the current series of PNM public meetings were in fact part of a mobilisation exercise for an election.

The minister reiterated that the meetings were aimed at “political education” on a series of issues which have been identified by Manning. The Prime Minister previously said the objective of these meetings was to better educate the population on issues of local government reform, constitutional reform and governance.

In light of today’s budget presentation and the budget debate expected to begin in the House on Friday, PNM public relations officer and Health Minister Jerry Narace said the public would be advised regarding the scheduling of further public meetings.

Opposing factions in the United National Congress (UNC) are divided over whether a snap general election is on the cards.

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday believes there will be no general election until it’s constitutionally due in 2012. Panday said Manning would not call an election now since there was no threat to the PNM’s hold on the government. However he said the UNC would remain prepared.

Renegade Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj insists Manning plans to hold early general elections instead of local government elections which were postponed for a fourth successive year in July.

Sources said passage of the Local Government Bill 2009 in both Houses of Parliament could provide the answer to this question. The joint select committee formed to deliberate on this bill met at the Red House last Tuesday and will meet again at the same venue tomorrow.

Manning has expressed confidence that the bill will be passed before December 31 so that local government elections can be held next year.

Sources claimed that whether this happens or not, Manning will then have the option of holding local elections or calling a general election if he believes the PNM stands a strong chance of gaining a constitutional majority in Parliament.

Political analysts, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Prime Minister will be cautious in making this decision since he has not forgotten how the PNM lost power when he called a snap election in 1995.

One analyst said that unlike 1995, the chances of a workable alliance between opposition parties against the PNM is becoming increasingly remote given the deteriorating state of the UNC and doubts over how politically viable is the Congress of the People (COP).

A second anaylst said the public will be wary about the track record of certain persons in both parties and unless those individuals are removed, a UNC-COP alliance will be beaten at the polls by the PNM.

Analysts concluded that the state of the economy, events arising from the Uff Commission of Inquiry, this country’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November and the ongoing warfare in the ranks of the UNC are just some of the factors which Manning will consider before he reaches into his back pocket the next time with an election date.