Understanding Proportional Representation (Dr. Ghany, Dec 2005)

"In 1974, the very thought of proportional representation being mixed with the first past-the-post system led Dr Eric Williams, in a scathing attack on the Wooding Constitution Commission, to categorically state that such a reform was designed to remove the PNM from power. One gets the impression that Williams’ views still resonate within the halls of Balisier House and that the PNM is more than likely to be very suspicious of any version of proportional representation.Curiously enough, the PNM may perform much better under proportional representation than they think, primarily because under the existing first past-the-post system PNM candidates do not lose their deposits in UNC strongholds, whereas UNC candidates usually lose their deposits in PNM strongholds.Seeing that proportional representation does not involve the use of constituencies (rather the entire country is treated as a single constituency) the gremlins of voter padding would lose their place in our electoral lingo."