Scattered showers across south Trinidad did not dampen the usual flare which Nomination Day has grown accustomed to and even despite calls to adhere to limiting gatherings to no more twenty-five, scores of party supporters rallied behind their respective candidates who inched closer to entering the election gayelle.
Although he did not agree with analysts that San Fernando West was a swing seat, incumbent PNM MP Faris Al-Rawi turned up at the office of the returning officer to file nomination papers minus the fanfare which accompanied his opponent UNC’s Sean Sobers.
The Attorney General said the threats posed by COVID-19 could not be ignored and had even still been receiving reports along his campaign trail. “I feel confident about it. It’s why I’ve come by myself today. We’re in a COVID pandemic.
We have to really manage ourselves carefully because T&T did not come first in the world by mistake.
As for anomalies, you’ll see a lot of people wearing yellow t-shirts on times, occasionally they said to me, boss, they paying $400 a day to walk. I could tell you we walk with volunteers in the PNM.”
A short prayer service preceded the UNC’s Sean Sobers march to the Cipero Street Returning Officers office. He said based on the word on the ground, his chances at the polls seemed favourable.
“So far the reception has been extremely positive and I think I’m going to do pretty well at the polls.”
He said under-representation remained a major thorn in the sides of constituents.
“They indicated the incumbent, for whatever reason, has been absent and they would really want an MP who is accessible and will deliver.”
For one San Fernando East candidate, yesterday represented much more than the moko jumbies and music trucks, but about carrying on the legacy of his father.
UNC candidate Sean Sobers, left, and Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) candidate Benison Jagessar greet each other during the nomination filing process on Cipero Street, San Fernando yesterday.
INNIS FRANCIS
Years after accompanying her late husband and former prime minister complete the similar process, Hazel Manning’s emotions ran high when she flanked her son’s side as he took the similar route and literally walked in his father’s footsteps.
“I think he’s doing very well, I’m very proud of what he’s doing and how he’s doing it he has not been into the mudslinging he’s looked at the big picture and working on the big picture, his vision and approach is different,” she said.
In the swing seat of Point-a-Pierre, it was a friendly face-off among supporters of the parties contesting the seat.
The PNM’s Daniel Dookie and MSJ’s David Abdullah will be hoping to unseat incumbent MP David Lee.
