PUP’s Robust Political Machinery Comes at a Steep Price
The ballots may have settled who won Sunday’s PUP convention, but they did not answer another major question: how much did victory cost? Both Eluide Miller and Allan Pollard joked that the bruising campaign left them broke, yet the highly organized machinery surrounding both camps suggested serious money was at work. Reports estimate that as much as one million dollars may have been spent throughout the weeks-long campaign and on convention day itself. The scale of that spending is now drawing scrutiny, with Area Representative Kareem Musa openly questioning whether internal party elections have become too expensive.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores
“It frightened me as much as it frightened you. Coming out here today it certainly is overwhelming. You look at all the t-shirts and all the tents, clearly a nice penny was spent out here today. So, I guess it is concerning. But that has historically been the case until we get to campaign finance legislation which I am hopeful and convinced that as the Minister of Governance we will have that.”
Reporter
“Because there is pressure from the NTUCB and the social partners for that to happen. So when it gets to Cabinet you will be in support of it.”
Kareem Musa
“Certainly, I have met with the NTUCB and the social partners on that. And, I have given my undertaking, at least from my end, that we will have a draft legislation by the end of this year.”
Paul Lopez
“I have estimated that each candidate would have had to spend at least half a million dollars, based on conversations I have had.”
Kareem Musa
“I would not say so much. But the t-shirts and the tents and the mobilization, it is a good amount. But I would not go as high as that.”
Paul Lopez
“You have to look at what was invested prior to as well.”
Kareem Musa
“Indeed, it is hard for me to estimate. But clearly out here is very robust and energized so to speak. It is a very good showing and a very good sign for the PUP.”
Paul Lopez
“But is that sort of spending justified?”
Kareem Musa
“It is high stakes, high tension. We have never had in the history of our party a mayoral convention, and that would explain why.”
With the convention now behind them, the question is whether the PUP will be able to unite the party ahead of the March 2027 municipal elections.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.