Political scientist and senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Dr Bishnu Ragoonath, is unsurprised by the recent switches within the United National Congress (UNC) as it continues to try to fill out its slate ahead of nomination day on April 4.
In a telephone interview, Ragoonath said he was not surprised by the shifts and admitted he expected to have seen it sooner.
"The UNC leadership has always said that they are going to try to bring about some degree of change, and the fact that they are going to try to pull up some of these people and put some new faces in, that's part and parcel of the process.
"Keith Rowley did it in 2015 and he brought in a whole set of new people. He also did it again in 2020 and brought in people. So every party would bring in new people at some point in time to ensure that they have continuity in the party so putting the young people, the young doctor in Naparima and the young doctor in Princes Town, those are simply expected changes that any political party would have to make as they move towards trying to win an election.
"The PNM did it up to 2020. This time they tried to stick with their people who they had put in there in 2015 and 2020, so they didn't put any new faces in, except for instance in Dr Rowley's seat, where again we see a young person coming on stream. That's about it."
Ragoonath believes changing the faces in the so-called "safe seats" could help rebrand the UNC, or any party, as bringing something new to the table and could pay off even in the marginals.
"We know that in every marginal constituency over 35 per cent of the electorate doesn't vote. So in those constituencies, that non-voter portion of the electorate needs to be excited. One of the ways to excite those non-voters to come out and vote is to show on the flip side what you're willing to do with regards to your safe seats."
Ragoonath said parties are free to change up candidates, bring in new faces and fill empty spots on the slate up to nomination day. However, he believes not only was the party selecting candidates for some constituencies too late to allow for proper campaigning, but it could give the public the wrong impression about the party.
“The UNC started screening last year, they should have had all their candidates lined up and waiting to go once the election bell was rung. They are the ones who calling on the PNM all the time, 'Call the election, call the election, call the election.' Now that the PNM has called the election, it seems to give the impression you have been caught off-guard and you are still fighting to figure out who's going where, so that is an impression."
He added: "The question that begs then, thereafter, is simply how does the party reconcile the negative fallout that they were not prepared. Of course, they keep saying we making sure we choose the right people, this, that and the other, but that's just PR and damage control. The mere fact that the UNC has been the one calling for the election a year ago or two years ago and now seems to be fl
