KEVON FELMINE
Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
With the 2025 General Election just days away, the usually serene constituency of Mayaro braces itself for a new beginning. Regardless of the outcome, Mayaro will have a new parliamentary representative.
The United National Congress (UNC) has replaced long-standing MP Rushton Paray with Nicholas Morris, sparking debate and some division within its eastern stronghold.
Meanwhile, the People’s National Movement (PNM), having once secured the then-Ortoire/Mayaro seat in the 2002 General Election, aims to regain it with candidate Beatrice Bridglal.
However, it will be a difficult task. The UNC has held the seat from 2007 to now. In 2020, Paray won with 10,593 votes, beating PNM’s Bunny Mahabirsingh, who garnered 7,229 votes. This was a slight decline over the 2015 results when Paray secured 11,730 votes against the PNM candidate Clarence Rambharat’s 8,836.
When Guardian Media visited the Mayaro Market, vendors voiced frustrations over the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation (MRCRC) refusing to open the toilet facilities. Vendors were forced to relieve themselves elsewhere after spending hours selling goods, as the door remained locked. Although this was a local government issue, vendors felt their MP should act on their behalf in all matters.
Outside the market, vegetable farmer and vendor Radica Roopi, 57, from Kernaham Village, expressed how difficult life had become in her community.
As an agricultural village, she said they struggle for adequate water in their tap. She added that pesticide prices are too high, diseases affect crops, and people rarely buy produce at the market.
Kernaham, a flood-prone area near the seaside, has been devastated by past flooding. Roopi recalled that despite her efforts to backfill around her home, the village still lacked proper infrastructure.
“We do not have any good roads. The piece of road we live on, we have to buy gravel to fill it in,” Roopi said, adding that patchwork repairs were ineffective.
She hopes the incoming MP will work towards improving the constituency’s infrastructure.
Navet resident Linberg Ramdeen, 35, said the community’s recreational facilities need urgent attention. He pointed to the Jairam Trace Recreation Ground, which could benefit from floodlights to better serve the youth. He also noted that the marginal constituencies would likely determine the next government. Given the country’s economic state and the collapse of the Dragon gas deal with Venezuela, he stressed that leadership capable of renegotiating such deals was crucial.
Over in Stonebright Village, Richard McGuirk and others shared concerns over a lack of development in recent years, particularly compared to the UNC-led People’s Partnership coalition from 2010-2015. Issues like the public spat between former Finance Minister Colm Imbert and Auditor General Jaiwantee Ramdass weighed heavily on his voting decision.
McGuirk stressed that the village needed road repairs, job creation, and youth development.
“The youths are forming little gangs. They are not too bad yet, but in time, they could lead to destruction,” McGuirk said.
He also highlighted the need for better infrastructure to support fishing and agriculture.
In Rio Claro, 62-year-old construction worker Kate Baal lamented the lack of steady work.
“I hardly have any work. When I get a little day’s work, that’s all I get,” Baal said.
He claimed a certain drilling project in his community only provided work for a select few. When asked if he had reached out to his representatives, Baal said, “They don’t have time for anybody.”
Along the Naparima Mayaro Road, Univer Noel complained that despite constant pleas for road repairs at Dades Trace Extension, residents’ requests had gone unheard.
“Not even just there. There are other places in Rio Claro where the road is so bad that taxis won’t even go. And when they do, they charge extra because the road ruins their tyres,” Noel said.
The disenchantment left some residents unwilling to vote, noting their concerns were ignored.
Noel, however, said she would still vote on April 28, as she hopes for improvements.
“The next MP should be fair to the people and listen to their voices,” she said.
Assessing former MP
Radica Roopi, who admitted she never really followed the politics and never sought Paray’s help, said she was amazed at how her son, a labourer, was raising three young children.
“People need a better country; the poor people are catching hell,” she said.
Although Roopi couldn’t assess Paray’s performance directly, she is determined to vote, hoping for a better future.
Ramdeen, meanwhile, felt Paray represented the constituency well during his tenure.
“Considering the individual, a lot of respect for him. I don’t know too much about Morris yet, but I know he’s a very good person as well,” Ramdeen said.
He believes Morris will come out on top despite the internal party conflict.
“I was upset by his (Paray) replacement, but I don’t believe it will cost the UNC a parliamentary seat.”
McGuirk, while praising Paray’s work, was deeply disappointed by the UNC’s rejection of Paray.
“Rushton Paray is the man for up here. However, Kamla did not select him. But he is a very good man. We all know him up here, and we support him 100 per cent,” McGuirk said.
Baal was less impressed with Paray’s performance, particularly in Rio Claro.
“Boy, Rushton Paray, I never saw him do anything for Rio Claro,” he said.
Despite his disillusionment, Baal was willing to give the new candidate a chance, accepting Morris’ promise of help.
Noel, though acknowledging Paray’s past contributions, was eager for change.
New face of the UNC
Morris, though young, is no newcomer to the UNC. He served as the National Youth Arm chairman from 2011 to 2015 and is currently the International Relations Officer. He has also worked as an opposition parliamentary researcher on energy affairs and parliamentary procedure for nine years.
In an interview at the Mayaro Market, Morris expressed confidence that the internal party strife had not affected the party’s supporters in Mayaro.
“We go forward as one strong Mayaro and UNC family,” he said.
He described Paray’s tenure as brilliant but stressed the focus now was on moving the constituency forward.
Morris outlined a vision for Mayaro, emphasising the need to reduce food prices, make fuel affordable, remove Value-Added Tax and property tax, and improve healthcare and community safety. He also highlighted the importance of the energy sector to Mayaro’s economy.
Additionally, Morris spoke of transforming Mayaro into a tourism hub, stating that its beauty could make it the “Miami of the Caribbean.”
For Morris, success after five years would see Mayaro thriving with a booming energy sector, a strong agricultural industry, improved infrastructure and a Mayaro Technology Institute.
PNM eyes opportunity
Bridglal, an insurance agent for 27 years and a lifetime member of The Million Dollar Roundtable, acknowledged the UNC’s internal squabble had presented an opportunity for the PNM to secure a win. Despite this, she said she was prepared for the challenge.
“I was not scared of Rushton, and I’m still not scared,” Bridgelal said.
She argued that while the UNC promised much, her plans for the constituency were more grounded in reality.
Bridgelal’s focus is on fulfilling the community’s basic needs, including clean environments, road repairs, and reliable water supply. She also suggested that Mayaro’s tourism potential was untapped and could contribute significantly to the local economy.
“I will ensure everything works because that is my main aim. I want to see here as a boutique constituency. People must come to the area. Like Mayaro itself, is like a giant for tourism, just waiting to be explored and I am anxious to start doing that.”
Political shake-up
Paray served as Mayaro’s MP for nine years and seven months after winning the seat in the September 7, 2015, general election.
After 2020, Paray became increasingly vocal on local issues, particularly during disaster responses to flooding and landslides.
He openly criticised both government and opposition leadership on transparency issues.
Tensions between Paray and the UNC leadership escalated in 2024. His call for the UNC to hold its internal elections, constitutionally due in June 2024, drew sharp criticism from party leaders.
Paray led the “United Patriots” slate in the UNC’s internal elections. The slate, which included outspoken MPs Anita Haynes-Alleyne and Dr Rai Ragbir, was defeated by the Persad-Bissessar-led “Star” team, further marginalising Paray and his allies within the party.
Despite the growing rift, Paray presented himself before the UNC’s screening committee in February as a prospective candidate. However, he was replaced by Morris.
Though bypassed by the UNC, Paray has not ruled out continuing his political journey—possibly as an independent or with another party.
“I’m listening, reflecting, and talking with the people of Mayaro. I am still a lifetime member of the UNC. If there’s strong support and a clear path to continue serving effectively—whether independently or with another team—I’ll consider it seriously. But it won’t be about ego or revenge. It’ll be about what’s best for the constituency and the country,” he said when contacted this week on his future.
Asked whether the move could affect the UNC’s chances in Mayaro, Paray said that depends on how the party moves forward.
“If they feel this decision was imposed without consultation or fairness, it could affect support.”
Still, his message was one of gratitude.
“I understand the disappointment... I’m still here. My commitment to Mayaro hasn’t changed.”
