Borel 'puts' out Marlene in PoS South

Athlete Cleopatra Borel arrives at the Balisier House, Port o Spain before being screened for the Port of Spain South seat on May 28. - Ayanna Kinsale
Athlete Cleopatra Borel arrives at the Balisier House, Port o Spain before being screened for the Port of Spain South seat on May 28. - Ayanna Kinsale

Freshly elected PNM Port-of-Spain south candidate, Cleopatra Borel intends to continue building on the many positive works done by incumbent MP Marlene McDonald having replaced the latter at the party’s screening on Thursday.

The four-time Olympic shot-put athlete got the nod ahead of current constituency executive chairman Wendell Stephens and TT Olympic Committee president Brian Lewis.

Freshly selected PNM Port of Spain south candidate Cleopatra Borel says she intends to continue building on the many positive works of incumbent MP Marlene McDonald, having replaced the latter at the party’s screening on Thursday.

Borel is a four-time Olympic shot-put athlete and 2018 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games gold medallist.

She got the nod ahead of current constituency executive chairman Wendell Stephens and TT Olympic Committee president Brian Lewis.

Borel was selected to serve alongside the party’s latest candidate additions including national senior cricket coach Mervyn Dillon (Toco/Sangre Grande), Symon De Nobrega (Diego Martin Central), Kennedy Richards Jr (Point Fortin) and Clifford Rambharose (Oropouche East).

The seasoned athlete expressed delight on her selection and felt “honoured” and “privileged” to be chosen ahead of her fellow nominees.

“I look forward to working for the people and becoming an asset to everyone in the area. I intend to work towards building our constituency and carrying on from the work that has already been done in the area. I hope to continue to represent and meet the people of the constituency, liaising with the current MP (McDonald) and to continue in a positive direction,” she said on Friday.

The 41-year old admitted she had been thinking about throwing her hat into the political ring for some time now and believes this is the right time for her to extend her services to nation and specifically, the people of Port of Spain south.

“I’ve always seen myself as a representative of TT and I understand both the challenges and what we have here in this country. I want to continue to build and contribute to the betterment of TT. It’s been on my mind for some time and I believe the time is just right for me to volunteer my services,” Borel added.

Borel admitted she has opted to focus on her political aspirations,since the future of sport shows great uncertainty due to the ongoing covid19 pandemic.

After receiving confirmation of her selection on Thursday, Borel was a bit shy to respond to questions on her goals going forwad.

She concluded, “Right now in the world of sport there are many challenges so I’m focused on this new chapter. I’m really just focused on ensuring I can do this job to the best of my ability. I’m not really ready to get into all of the details, I’m just in the moment right now and trying to organise to see where things go.”

Borel grew up in Plaisance Village, Mayaro, and began her career as a national field athlete in 2002. Since her introduction to the sport, partnered with a short stint at hammer throw, the multiple-achieved Sportswoman of the Year has dominated the local, regional and international circuit.

Some of her highlighted performances range from "putting" to gold at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships (2007), CAC Games (2010 & 2014), CAC Championships (2011 and 2013) and Pan American Games (2015.

She also launched to silver at the NACAC Under-25 Championships (2002), CAC Championships (2003 and 2005), Pan American Games (2011), Commonwealth Games (2014) and NACAC Championships (2018).

Additionally, Borel has maintained her presence among the globe’s top flight female shot putters by placing 10th (2004 Greece), 17th (2008 China), 12th (2012 London) and 7th (2016 Brazil) at the Olympic Games.

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"Borel ‘puts’ out Marlene in PoS South"

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