PNM screens more hopefuls for local elections

With the local government elections constitutionally due this year, screening for prospective candidates to represent the People’s National Movement (PNM) in the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC) took place at Balisier House on Monday evening.

The TPRC covers 16 constituencies, including Tunapuna, Arima, St Augustine, St Joseph, D’Abadie/O’Meara, Lopinot/Bon Air, Arouca/Maloney, and MPs for some of those constituencies could be seen making their way into Balisier House on Monday, among them Terrence Deyalsingh, Maxie Cuffie, Ancil Antoine, Esmond Forde and Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly.

Speaking with Newsday at the end of the screening process, general secretary of the party Foster Cummings said: “We were able to conclude 80 per cent of the candidates, and we will reconvene to complete the other 20 per cent in another day or two.”

On the weekend screening of candidates for the Point Fortin, San Fernando and Siparia regions, Cummings said all the candidates for the San Fernando region have been selected, and for the Point Fortin and Siparia regions, 80 per cent.

Asked when the elections will be held, Cummings said with a laugh, “You know who you have to ask for that!”

In the last local government elections in 2016, the PNM won 83 electoral districts and eight municipal corporations, while the opposition United National Congress took 54 electoral districts and six municipal corporations.

On the construction work on the new Balisier House, Cummings said: “We have completed the basement and we are now about to start construction of the superstructure.”

He added that some of the steel work is being done off-site and when completed, will be brought in and assembled on site.

Asked about finances for the construction, Cummings said: “We are currently raising funds, and as we do, we move ahead. The buy-the-block campaign is progressing well so far and remember, our raffle a few months ago was a major fund-raiser.”