Winston Dookeran, leader of Congress of the People (COP), is unlikely to face the May 24 polls. The door has been left wide open for Dookeran to contest an Opposition "safe seat," but there were strong indications last night that he would not present himself to the electorate. The Dookeran stunner emerged as COP and United National Congress (UNC) arrived at an agreement about seat-sharing, after marathon discussions Thursday night and yesterday. The accord paves the way for the UNC to contest most of its currently-held 15 "safe seats."
Apart from Dookeran, another top-ranked COP official is earmarked to contest a traditional Opposition constituency. Dookeran previously represented the St Augustine seat. The UNC is also likely to field candidates in a majority of the nine marginal constituencies. Already, the party has announced Dr Fuad Khan for Barataria/San Juan and Clifton De Coteau for Princes Town South/Tableland, which is expected to be renamed Tableland/Moruga. COP's Marlene Coudray is slated to contest San Fernando West, in a replay of the November 2007 general election. The party is also likely to present candidates for certain swing constituencies along the East-West Corridor. Generally, the UNC walked away with the lion's share of seats in the accord.
Both Dookeran and UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday heralded the agreement. Negotiators also confirmed that Persad-Bissessar would be the prime ministerial candidate. UNC officials said party candidates could give their leader a majority of seats in the 41-member House of Representatives. Sources last night said that bargaining was "tough and sometimes difficult," but that "in the end, both sides were happy." A COP source said the party's leadership is "looking forward to playing a role in government." The UNC is expected to foot most of the electioneering costs. Details of the agreement are likely to be revealed within the next few days.
