The launch of the People’s Partnership manifesto on August 7, and the launch of the PNM manifesto on August 20, has pushed the general election campaign into a phase that can be called “manifesto wars.”
Among the major criticisms of the PNM manifesto by the People’s Partnership are the recycling of older promises made in earlier manifestos. A very significant one had to do with the reduction of the Value Added Tax. In 1991, the PNM promised under the heading “Assistance to Low Income Groups” as follows:
“…the rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT) will be reduced…...” (Sunday Guardian PNM manifesto advertising supplement, December 1, 1991, p 5).
This particular measure has been repeated in the 2015 PNM manifesto as follows:
“Reduce VAT to 12.5% to provide much-needed relief to all consumers and lower the cost of living, while aggressively improving tax collections.” (p 77).
The proposal for the reduction of the VAT has led to a fierce retort from the PNM against Cambridge University-trained UWI economist, Dr Roger Hosein. Last week, the Sunday Guardian reported that Hosein had said that the country stood to lose “close to $5.5 billion in revenues over a five-year period.” The PNM’s attack on Hosein sought to challenge his credibility by saying that his comments were “unempirical and unscientific.”
That debate is ongoing because Hosein stuck to his position and was still asking the question about where the lost revenue will be found.
Another PNM manifesto promise that was challenged by the People’s Partnership was the issue of land records in Tobago. In their 1961 manifesto, the PNM had promised that for Tobago, “Efforts will be made to clarify and regularise land titles. With titles firmly established, more medium and long-term loans would be made by the Agricultural Credit Bank.” [PNM 1961 Manifesto, Priority 6 (a)].
However, in their 2015 manifesto, the PNM is promising to “collaborate with the THA to formalise land rights in Tobago as a prerequisite for improved security of land tenure and sustainable economic development.” (p 74).
The issue of land titles in Tobago came to a head in January 2013 during the THA election campaign in a ceremony on January 14, 2013, when Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar gave out land title deeds to people who had been waiting for several years.
On the other hand, the People’s Partnership has come under fire from the PNM over the issue of the property tax. At a PNM meeting at Five Rivers, Arouca, two Saturdays ago, PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley told the crowd:
“So when I told the reporter that we the PNM have nothing to do because this Government had laid a framework since 2014, and that’s in place, Mr Howai jumps up the next morning and calls me a liar.” That was in response to Finance Minister Larry Howai’s recent statements that no property tax was planned for next year, and that the Cabinet had not considered any resumption of the property tax.
The position of the Government is that there will be no property tax, while the position of the PNM is that they are powerless to do anything because they are of the opinion that the framework for the property tax is already in place.
The PNM have not said that, if they should win, they would use their parliamentary majority to prevent a property tax. Instead, they are saying that they cannot do anything to change it. The Government has said it will not happen.
Perhaps the most contentious issue in the manifesto wars has been the question of building a highway to Point Fortin. According to the PNM 2015 manifesto, the party has promised to “complete the San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway in a manner that best serves the national interest and the interest of all affected parties and stakeholders.” (p 39).
The People’s Partnership has responded by saying that they are already building the highway and that they will complete it. They also said that the PNM promised to build the highway in previous manifestos and did not deliver that promise. In the PNM 1961 manifesto, there was a promise for “construction of a highway from St Mary’s to Point Fortin.” [Priority 5]. In their 1966 manifesto it was stated that “Studies and surveys are in progress in respect of the highway from St Mary’s to Point Fortin.” (p 9). In their 1981 manifesto, the PNM promised “the extension of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin…” (p 140). In their 1991 manifesto, the PNM again promised “Extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin….” (Sunday Guardian PNM manifesto advertising supplement, December 1, 1991, p 10). In the 2007 PNM manifesto, they again promised “Extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway from Golconda to La Brea and Point Fortin. Design work is almost complete for this initiative.” (p. 36).
The manifesto wars have come late in the campaign. The PNM chose their candidates ahead of presenting their manifesto. On the other hand, the People’s Partnership did the opposite and presented their manifesto ahead of deciding on their candidates.