PEP leader to go up against Al-Rawi or Imbert

PROGRESSIVE Empowerment Party (PEP) political leader Phillip Edward Alexander said, for this year's general election, he will be contesting either the San Fernando West seat or the Diego Martin North/East.

"The numbers say I should go up against Faris Al-Rawi (San Fernando West MP and Attorney General) or Colm Imbert (Diego Martin North/East MP and Finance Minister) to prevent PNM playing race cards and other games if I were to go against (Diego Martin West MP and Prime Minister Dr Keith) Rowley. Because we anticipate this election is going to be very nasty."

He said the PEP,which was launched in January 2017, has done a lot of its work from the start on social media.

"So that has given us an advantage, ironically, because the other parties are playing catch-up."

He pointed out that when Government instituted the lockdown the party had its studio already online and the PEP was able to do three and four hours of shows daily when the lockdown was announced.

"We do a lot of our work online and a lot of our campaigning has been done online."

Alexander said the party had a massive candidate presentation event planned for March 21 on Stanmore Avenue, Port of Spain, (the party's head office is located at 19 Stanmore Avenue) and permission was granted by the Commissioner of the Police to close the street.

"And all of that, of course, had to be cancelled because of the lockdown and we are now preparing for virtual launches to stagger the announcement of different candidates as soon as the PNM and UNC 'circus' is over so that the public doesn't get distracted. Because our candidates are coming with real policy messages and we don't want it to get lost in all of the drama going on with these candidates right now."

He said his party had a pool of 63 candidates and it was being whittled down to 41 (the total number of constituencies in TT). He said the potential candidates have been on the ground and submitting daily reports as they have targets to meet regarding donations and membership sign-ups. He said that would be used as a guide for the constituencies where they have two or three possible candidates and they will then narrow it down and select one candidate.

Alexander said, at a party leadership meeting on Saturday, a decision would be made on what order to announce the candidates for the most mind share (consumer awareness) and to decide on the date of the first virtual launch. Each virtual launch will have either five or ten candidates. Alexander said the plan was to have the launches in a town-hall environment to give the candidates an opportunity to speak to the public.

In 2018 the party fielded candidates in the by-elections in Belmont East and Barataria and both lost their deposits, receiving 69 votes and 51 votes respectively.