?A confident PNM Diego Martin West Keith Rowley is now awaiting word from Prime Minister Patrick Manning-led PNM screening committee after Rowley faced Manning in yesterday's screening process.
"I am very confident that the process is now at work...So let's see," Rowley said. He said this amid tears, hugs, kisses and shouts of encouragement from supporters outside PNM's Balisier House, yesterday. Rowley, who arrived at 5 pm for screening, was mobbed by a large contingent of PNM Diego Martin West supporters who had arrived as early as 3.30 pm. "We want he!" said one buxom woman. Rowley was the first to be screened out of nominees for five constituencies. He emerged from the screening process after only 15 minutes and was again mobbed by enthusiastic supporters. He said there had been wide-ranging questions put to him by the screening committee, including Manning. PNM officials said Rowley had been asked by Manning about his commitment. They also said the screening team sought to obtain assurances about current inquiries under way and whether anything might be revealed later on, on Rowley's side, that could affect the party's image. When Rowley's executive emerged from meeting with the screening committee, acting Diego Martin West chairman Sigler Jack said the screening committee had promised to get back to the constituency executive.
He said he could not stay how long the committee's deliberations would take. He said the executive had not been told to look for another candidate. "We just have to wait till the process is completed...It was a normal process," Jack said. "The interview was a normal process. It took about 15 minutes. What I can say is we were not sent back to look for a candidate, and that in itself is a very good sign. So I am quietly confident we will get Dr Rowley. "The interview was amicable, very nice in a very relaxed atmosphere." He added Rowley answered all the questions put to him. After Rowley's screening, his colleague, ex-MP Fitzgerald Hinds, came to Balisier House around 7 pm saying he had got news Rowley had been "successfully screened." "That's excellent news. The selection of Dr Rowley gives the PNM hope for the future. I can see clearly now," Hinds said. Also being screened yesterday were Point Fortin nominees, incumbent MP Paula Gopee-Scoon and Nigel Minors. The executive has recommended the incumbent. Two nominees had dropped out recently and the executive met on the issue on Monday, with Gopee-Scoon receiving the majority backing support from constituency groups. After the screening, Gopee-Scoon said she was confident. Paul Cromwell, secretary of the executive, said the unit would be told who will be chosen in "one or two days."
PNM Point Fortin sources have tipped Gopee-Scoon to get the nod. Gopee-Scoon arrived at Balisier House yesterday, accompanied by a large contingent of supporters with musical accompaniment from party group 14. Also being screened last night were nominees for the constituencies of Siparia (four nominees, including Siparia Regional Corporation chairman Vidya Deokiesingh), Fyzabad (Joel Primus and Marsha Bailey), Princes Town North (three nominees, including Anwarie Ramkissoon), and St Augustine (nominees Essau Mohammed and Dr Bose Sharma). So far, the ruling party has screened nominees for 36 constituencies and was yet to complete those for the two Tobago seats. Nominees are Terrence Williams (Tobago West) and Rennie Dumas (Tobago East). Decisions are also pending for several seats, including Arima, St Ann's East, Princes Town South/Tableland, Cumuto Manzanilla, Mayaro and La Horquetta Talparo.