Senior Political Reporter
After masqueraders’ hectic two-day “Pardy,” the political parties resume activity from today with submission of the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) Tabaquite general election nominees ahead.
This was confirmed by PNM officials over the weekend.
The PNM, which has selected 40 prospective candidates for the 41 constituencies, announced on February 17 that it was requesting new nominees for Tabaquite in two weeks from that date. That was to replace the initial prospective candidate Anil Ramjit, who was shelved by the party.
Soon after the development was announced, approaches were made by the PNM’s Tabaquite unit to a handful of individuals on possible nomination. Tabaquite PNM sources said the field was being narrowed down to a female professional and they expected screening when Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley returns from his US visit.
Meanwhile, the United National Congress (UNC), which completed screening last week, is expected to shift focus to oiling political machinery, including mobilisation and analysis of candidates, and continuing the consideration of decisions to be made on candidates for some areas. While the UNC is contesting 39 Trinidad seats, it has only announced eight candidates so far. UNC officials said they expected that some more candidates will be announced ahead. They shrugged off criticisms of the party’s operations made recently by so-called dissident Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally. Rambally had been screened for the seat - along with several other nominees - in January but withdrew his nomination, which he had filed in April 2024, lodging a number of accusations at the party and leadership, from divisive racial rhetoric to unprofessionalism and poor judgement. But UNC officials claimed Rambally “made his choices” long ago ... the party’s processes are moving on.”