Former PNM deputy mayor of San Fernando Rabindra Moonan is among 30 likely candidates filing nomination papers to contest one of nine seats on a Congress of the People (COP) ticket for the San Fernando City Corporation. Navi Muradali, the son of former member of Parliament for Tabaquite, Nazim Muradali, has also thrown his hat into the ring. Muradali is vying for the Les Efforts East/Cipero seat currently held by Kazim Hosein.
Hosein, the son of former mayor of San Fernando Rakeeb Hosein, has bowed out. The COP began its screening process on Friday evening in San Fernando. It will be concluded today. Nomination Day is July 5. Local Government elections will take place on July 26. Moonan, a businessman from Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, served as deputy mayor from 1992 to 1995. He was elected as representative for Les Efforts/La Romaine on a People's National Movement (PNM) ticket.
He later resigned from the party after a falling out with his former political leader and prime minister Patrick Manning. He is hoping to bring back this seat, now held by another COP member Carol Cuffy-Dowlat, for the People's Partnership Government. Asked why he has decided to re enter politics after 15 years, Moonan said, "there has been an abuse of the democratic process for four years," in reference to the postponement of Local Government elections which should have been held in 2007.
"This is one of the many things the PP has to correct. The PNM has made a proper mess of San Fernando. The present council is the worst we have seen in the history of San Fernando," Moonan asserted. He said many of the councillors who were Cepep contractors "have no interest in representing people. They have an interest in representing themselves and exploiting those same people they employ." He said the People's Partnership Government should take the opportunity now to clean up the mess by deepening and strengthening the link between Local and Central Government. Moonan said San Fernando could only benefit from his experience.