[UPDATED] Seales: I am in it to win it

Insp Michael Seales -
Insp Michael Seales -

LAUREL V WILLIAMS and SEAN DOUGLAS

Saying he is in it to win it, former police inspector Michael Seales vowed to rise to the challenge and represent whichever constituency the PNM screening committee has chosen for him.

"Rest assure that Michael Alonso Seals will be one of the best MPs in the party and will give yeoman service," Seales said.

"I will die trying, trying to make a difference in the life of everyone who I am appointed to serve. Wherever they give me, I will rise to the challenge and represent the people."

Seales is the PNM candidate for Tabaquite in the upcoming general elections, party PRO Laurel Lezama told Newsday on Monday.

He was initially screened in a group of nominees for Couva North, whose incumbent UNC MP Ramona Ramdial vowed to "seal" his fate. He is also a constituent of Couva North.

When Newsday contacted Seales on Monday, he said he was unaware of the switch but welcomed it.

"If it is, in fact, true that I have been reassigned to Tabaquite, I say to Ramona that she is very lucky because she would have gotten a cut tail from me. I am not about violence so it would have been a political one," Seales said.

"I welcome the challenge. It shows that the leadership of the party has confidence in terms of what they think I can offer. Once I get an opportunity to make a difference, I am going to take full advantage of it."

Seales was the former president of the Police Social and Welfare Association (PSWA), a position he held for three years. He was also served as a secretary for six years. He has also been a policeman for 31 years.

He recalled seeing "tears of joy" from police officers who benefitted of his representation.

"It is so humbling to see tears in the eyes of a policeman/ woman tears when they benefited from my representation. I am going to try to increase that by way of the services I will offer at whichever constituency I am sent to."

The incumbent UNC MP, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, is not offering himself for re-election.

Seales said he is taking his career to the next level by entering the political ring. He said he is a few months shy of completing his doctorate in Business Administration at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business of the University of the West Indies.

"Based on that, I know that the decisions I make will impact on policies. I want to impact on policies at the highest level and I have a passion to serve and to make a difference in people’s lives," Seales said.

The PNM screening committee has chosen Sharda Sataram for Couva North. The PNM PRO also confirmed reports that Solange de Sousa will stand in Fyzabad, now held by the UNC's Dr Lackram Bodoe.

Lezama said the PNM will announce on Tuesday its candidates for Siparia, a stronghold of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and Moruga/Tableland, for which former culture minister Winston "Gypsy" Peters was screened amid some constituency demonstrations in support of incumbent Dr Lovell Francis.

Lezama told Newsday the screening committee has confirmed the selection of seven incumbents screened last week, each as the sole nominee, most notably the Prime Minister. These were Dr Keith Rowley for Diego Martin West, Colm Imbert for Diego Martin North East, Adrian Leonce for Laventille East/Morvant, Fitzgerald Hinds for Laventille West, Terrence Deyalsingh for St Joseph, Camille Robinson-Regis for Arouca/Maloney, and Faris Al-Rawi for San Fernando West. Further screenings are expected to be done on Tuesday, Lezama said.

This story was originally published with the title "PNM picks Insp Seales for Tabaquite" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

FORMER police inspector Michael A Seales is the PNM candidate for Tabaquite, party PRO Laurel Lezama told Newsday on Monday.

Despite having been screened in a group of nominees for Couva North, whose incumbent UNC MP Ramona Ramdial vowed to "seal" his fate, Seales will instead vie for Tabaquite whose UNC MP Dr Surujrattan Rambachan is not standing for re-election.

The PNM screening committee has chosen Sharda Sataram for Couva North. Lezama also confirmed reports that Solange de Sousa will stand in Fyzabad, now held by the UNC's Dr Lackram Boddoe.

Lezama said the PNM will announce on Tuesday its candidates for Siparia, stronghold of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and Moruga/Tableland, for which former culture minister Winston "Gypsy" Peters was screened amid some constituency demonstrations in support of incumbent Dr Lovell Francis.

Lezama told Newsday the screening committee has confirmed the selection of seven incumbents screened last week, each as sole nominee, most notably the Prime Minister. These were Dr Keith Rowley for Diego Martin West, Colm Imbert for Diego Martin North East, Adrian Leonce for Laventille East/Morvant, Fitzgerald Hinds for Laventille West, Terrence Deyalsingh for St Joseph, Camille Robinson-Regis for Arouca/Maloney, and Faris Al-Rawi for San Fernando West. Further screenings are expected to be done on Tuesday, Lezama said.

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"[UPDATED] Seales: I am in it to win it"

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