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Election campaigns coming to an end
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by PANORAMA reporter
Electioneering is coming to an end, and the moment of truth is just round the corner.
Twenty-eight candidates are standing for election. Seventeen will get elected and eleven will not make it.
This is the first election under the new Constitution - and the first poised to elect 17 instead of 15 members of Parliament.
For the first time also, each voter will have up to 10 votes to cast, instead of eight as was the case previously.
It brings a new situation as a party needs at least 9 votes to form Government. So, there could be a government with a majority of one: It would be 9 in government and 8 in Opposition.
But the two big parties are asking that electors use their 10 votes in block for their respective parties.If there is a government made up of 10 members, the opposition would have seven.
Judging by the PANORAMA opinion poll, block voting is as strong as ever, which would mean that the public are perfectly aware that if in the past they voted for 8, they now have to vote for ten.
The 6-strong PDP and the two independents will be hoping that they attract enough voting to see them through.
The PANORAMA poll has been the talk of the town. Poll "sets off election frenzy" said the Chronicle.
A close thing, described as 'neck and neck' by us, as the Alliance was just slightly ahead.
The GSD leadership took full note of the poll, and straight-away changed their electioneering tactics. They had earlier announced a change from the usual hustings, where candidates loud-hail for support in the estates etc, and said they would just go to the different places and wait there for members of the public to pop round to ask them any questions they may have.
But as soon as the poll came out, GSD candidates,including their leader, were out and about with their loud-hailers. They had taken note!
The GSLP/LIBERAL Alliance appeared to have been more active at these elections. It first became evident at a super-crowded John Mackintosh hall. They appeared to be more enthusiastic than the GSD who appeared lukewarm in their attitude.
The PDO, who had failed to get their leader to the Leaders Debate tonight, converted their phone-in into a solo effort by their leader, obviously to give him maximum exposure.
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