Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) leader Philip Alexander says the People’s National Movement (PNM) may want to think again if it believes Diego Martin will remain a PNM stronghold.
Alexander yesterday told Guardian Media he plans to contest the Diego Martin Central seat, where he lives, in the upcomnig general election. He said under the United National Congress (UNC) coalition, PEP plans to contest several seats in the northwest region.
These include Diego Martin West, Diego Martin Central, Diego Martin North/East, Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West, Port-of-Spain South, St Ann’s East, Laventille East/Morvant and Laventille West.
“This election is going to be a literal whitewash. PNM is going to be beaten very badly. The people of this country couldn’t be more fed up of this Government and every one of them and the least performing minister of all those badly performing ministers is Symon de Nobriga. He might as well be a ghost.”
While he preferred to wait until the UNC’s screening was completed, Alexander would only reveal that PEP has a strong female candidate to contest the Diego Martin West constituency.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has been the MP for the last three decades.
However, he will not be seeking re-election as he will be exiting politics in the coming months.
The PNM is yet to screen prospective candidates for any of the three Diego Martin constituencies.
But when Guardian Media visited Diego Martin Central yesterday and Wednesday, many constituents said it does not matter who contests the seat- Diego Martin Central will remain a PNM stronghold.
From Diamond Vale to Petit Valley to Morne Coco, residents seemed to be torn when it came to the performance of the incumbent MP Symon De Nobriga.
One resident said, “I have been here for over 12 years in Diamond Vale. I have never seen the existing representative for the area. I don’t need to see them actually but I need, like others, to get things done when it’s needed.”
Another resident Angela Celestine said, “If you ain’t asking for help you can’t get help you know. He can’t just come and know what you want. You have to go to him and ask him or go to the constituency and ask and say what is what ... he is very down to earth. To me, he listens to you.”
Another resident Cuthbert Tracy said, “The MP is non-existent.”
One Petit Valley resident said, “This guy is full of chat but no action. You talk to him and he’s always going to respond but nothing happens.”
While he has shown no interest in being screened for the Diego Martin Central constituency, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne is still loved by many of his former constituents, who have called for his return.
Browne was the MP from 2007 to 2015.
A resident said, “Amery Browne is able, well respected. I think he was very moderate. Even the way he conducts himself, he is not somebody who has a lot of confusion around him. That’s what I like about him and that’s what a lot of times when you speak to people here and they ask you who would you like, just as a representative generally, Amery Browne name comes up.”
Constituent Veronica Roberts said, “I admire him. He’s a son. He’s somebody that you can talk to and when a person learns to listen that’s plenty.”
The Diego Martin Central constituency executive will present the names of nominees to the screening committee on Monday. De Nobriga is expected to be the sole nominee.
