Senior Political Reporter
Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce (GSFCC) president Kiran Singh has been nominated, along with four other people hoping to contest the Pointe-a-Pierre constituency for the People’s National Movement in the 2025 general elections.
Those nominees are expected to be interviewed by the PNM’s Screening Committee next Friday.
This was confirmed after the PNM’s General Council met on Thursday. The meeting followed the close of nominations for nine constituencies.
The PNM units in those nine areas—all held by the Opposition UNC—had been notified in June to start seeking nominees towards an August 15 deadline.
On Thursday, when the General Council was held, it was confirmed that screening by the party’s Screening Committee—headed by PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley—will be done for nominees from the south areas Pointe-a-Pierre, Mayaro, Moruga/Tableland, Cumuto/Manzanilla and Fyzabad next Friday at the PNM’s south office.
Nominees from the Central areas of Caroni East and Chaguanas East will be screened the next day, Saturday, at the PNM’s Central office.
Singh, a South businessman for almost 24 years, has been GSFCC president since April 2018. His nomination came in recently, officials said. Singh, who has a high profile, has been vocal on issues in San Fernando and surrounding areas, including crime and the economy.
Also nominated for Pointe-a-Pierre is tourism industry businessman and former Couva/Point Lisas chamber president Mukesh Ramsingh. Other nominees for that constituency are businessman Clyde Rambarran; former T&T track and field athlete, now coach Kirdel McIntosh and athlete Sherwin Joseph, officials said.
The PNM’s Pointe-a-Pierre executive will meet next week to interview all nominees and make its selections ahead of the Screening Committee meeting next Friday.
Meanwhile, the PNM’s Barataria/San Juan unit submitted four names of nominees—Senate vice-president Dr Muhammed Yunus Ibrahim, Social Development Minister Donna Cox, police officer Roger Mohammed and businessman Sheriff Ali.
Four names were also submitted by the party’s Moruga/Tableland executive. They are business management expert Kerneisha Prince-King, educator/Lengua Indian walk campaign manager Lisa Atwater, former 2023 Local Government candidate Emmanuel Pierre and administrator Jian Graham.
For Mayaro, oilfield consultant Antonio Ross, accountant Janessa Campbell, attorney Asha Hardeo-Dhanpat, businessman Bunny Sankar Mahabirsingh and Rene McLashie-Mayers, a medical social worker, are hoping to get the nod.
The PNM’s Cumuto/Manzanilla executive submitted the names of communication specialist Savitree Singh-Saunders and procurement specialist Latoya Reyes, officials said. The PNM’s Chaguanas East executive received and submitted a nomination for Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport Richie Sookhai.
The party’s St Augustine executive submitted two nominees—management and legal professionals. Fyzabad and Caroni East executives nominated several prospects, which included business people.
All constituencies are presently represented by Opposition MPs, who have all filed nominations with the UNC to contest the seats for that party again.
On Thursday, UNC officials taunted the PNM, as it sought out candidates for constituencies considered opposition strongholds.
“Any time you ready, come by we (is) licks like peas with plenty pepper!” said a UNC official.