The People’s National Movement will today resume screening of prospective candidates for the general election for four constituencies currently held by the Opposition UNC.
Today is also the deadline for the names of PNM nominees to be submitted from ten other Opposition–held seats.
The PNM first called for nominees from nine UNC-held areas in June—Mayaro, Moruga/Tableland, Pointe-a-Pierre, Cumuto/Manzanilla, St Augustine, Fyzabad, Caroni East, Chaguanas East and Barataria/San Juan.
After reviews in August, the PNM’s Screening team headed, by Prime Minister and PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley, selected prospective candidates: businessman Mukesh Ramsingh (PAP); Minister in the Attorney General’s office Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal (St Augustine), Minister in the Ministry of Works Richie Sookhai (Chaguanas East); Senate Vice President Dr Muhammed Ibrahim (Barataria/San Juan) and data analyst Leena Rampersad (Caroni East).
The PNM’s constituency executive units in Mayaro, Moruga/Tableland and Cumuto/Manzanilla were instructed to seek new prospective candidates. Screening for the Fyzabad seat wasn’t done since one nominee was out of the country.
Party officials confirmed screening resumes at 5 pm today at Balisier House for these areas.
PNM officials in Mayaro are expected to present three nominees, including insurance executive Beatrice Bridgelal.
Moruga/Tableland officials said there are six new prospective candidates who will be screened. They said three who were initially interviewed—Kernisha Prince- King, Lisa Atwater and Emmanuel Pierre—are on “reserve” but won’t be screened.
Moruga officials said the six new nominees, all men, include an independent candidate in the 2021 Local Government election, Ariel Saunders. They said other nominees are Suresh Seebaran, a justice of the peace who was previously in politics, as well as an accountant, lecturer, contractor and businessman.
Party officials in Cumuto/Manzanilla said their four nominees are attorney Stacy McSween, Wayne Gransam, a teacher, Agriculture Ministry employee Nadia Ramatahalsingh and Wade Greaux.
Fyzabad’s five nominees were former UNC member Jason Ali; businessman Kheron Khan (son of late PNM MP/chairman Frankie Khan), Richard Gooding, Roger Supersad and Kamaludeen Ghany.
—Gail Alexander