Le Hunte skips La Brea screening of 13 nominees

PNM vice-chairman Robert Le Hunte on Saturday said he has no intention of bowing out of politics.

Le Hunte, who resigned as public utilities minister last month and was rejected as a PNM nominee for La Brea, made this statement outside the PNM South Regional Office in San Fernando as the party screened nominees for La Brea, Mayaro and Naparima.

Le Hunte said the question of bowing out does not arise because he is PNM vice-chairman. While he was considered the favoured nominee for La Brea, Le Hunte said he had no problem with the party asking for a wider search for nominees.

"Our party has a structure," Le Hunte said. Last week, Le Hunte said he would recuse himself from the screening committee's deliberations when it came to selecting a candidate for La Brea. He left the party's regional office around 4.45 pm. The screening began at 3 pm.

Le Hunte resigned from the Cabinet over a difference of opinion with the PM over policy, as statement from him had said. Reports are they had a disagreement over increasing water rates and the Government's water resources plans.

A total of 13 nominees were screened for La Brea. They were Dr Germine Bovell-Pitt, Jernel Pierre, Keith McDonald, Dr Paulette Jorsling, Annika Lawrence, Shivan Davis-Spencer, Jineal Christopher, Eldica Hospedales, Neil Derrick, Kizie Vincent, Anton George and Adasa Edwards.

Bridget Adams and Randy Sinanan were screened as nominees for Mayaro and Naparima respectively on Saturday. Adams said, "I think I did pretty well." She did not know if there were any other nominees for Mayaro.

PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley chaired Saturday's meeting of the screening committee.

PNM chairman Colm Imbert, vice-chairman Camille Robinson-Regis, youth officer Fitzgerald Hinds, PRO Laurel Lezama Lee Sing and Le Hunte were the other members of the committee who were present for the screening of election nominees. Former La Brea MP Hedwidge Bereaux was also present for the screening.

In keeping with covid19 regulations, nominees were asked to wait in San Fernando East MP Randall Mitchell's constituency office until they were called to be interviewed by the committee. Mitchell has been replaced as the candidate by Brian Manning, son of the late Patrick Manning who served as prime minister from 1991 to 1995 and 2001 to 2010, and as the constituency's MP for 44 years.

Mayaro, La Brea, Naparima, Arima, Toco/Sangre Grande and Lopinot/ Bon Air West are the only constituencies that the PNM has not selected candidates for.

On Sunday, the PNM will screen nominees for Arima, Toco/Sangre Grande and Lopinot/ Bon Air West at Queen's Hall, St Ann's from 5 pm. It was not confirmed if TT's UN representative Pennelope Beckles had returned to Trinidad to be screened for Arima. Beckles was to be granted an exemption to return to TT from the US, but was expected to undergo quarantine for 14 days.