Imbert Accuses UNC of Creating Boroughs for Electoral Advantage

PNM MP Colm Imbert has accused the UNC Government of creating new municipal corporations in areas of strong UNC support in an attempt to strengthen its position ahead of the next local government election. Speaking at an Opposition press conference on Tuesday, October 6, Imbert argued that the proposed changes under the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2026 were politically motivated. “So all this is, is a test. The UNC know they’re in trouble,” Imbert said. He claimed the Government believes it would face difficulties if a local government election were held using the existing municipal boundaries. “They know that if local government election was called now, with the existing boundaries, they would lose ,” he said. Imbert then accused the Government of grouping areas of UNC support into newly proposed municipalities. “So all they have done is created these new clusters of UNC and call them a borough in order to try and save face,” he said. His comments form part of a broader Opposition challenge to the Government’s proposed restructuring of local government. Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has also described the proposed changes as an attempt at gerrymandering, arguing that the areas selected for new corporations are represented by the The Government has rejected the political interpretation of the changes. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said the reforms are intended to address population growth, outdated boundaries, disparities between municipalities and weaknesses in local government service delivery.