PNM picks Mayaro, Naparima candidates

THE ruling PNM has chosen two more general election candidates. But the party was unable to select a candidate for its stronghold constituency of La Brea, where former minister Robert Le Hunte has been a contender.

After a marathon screening session at the party's south regional office in San Fernando which started at 3 pm on Saturday and ended after midnight, PNM officials announced businessman Bunny Mahabirsingh and attorney Randy Sinanan as its candidates for Mayaro and Naparima respectively.

Contacted on Sunday, Sinanan told Newsday, "I welcome the opportunity."

Sinanan said as a constituent of Naparima, he is aware of the concerns of his fellow constituents and he has been interacting with them to discuss possible solutions. Sinanan added that he is not daunted by Naparima being regarded as a UNC stronghold constituency. Naparima is represented in Parliament by Rodney Charles. The UNC has not selected a candidate for Naparima to date.

For La Brea, the PNM screened 13 nominees. But party officials said after careful consideration by the full executive and the screening committee, none was considered acceptable. The La Brea constituency executive was asked and agreed to continue its search. The executive is to report back to the screening committee on June 20.

Former La Brea MP Hedwidge Bereaux said he was not worried about the length of time that it was taking for the PNM to select a candidate for the constituency.

He disclosed that the party's screening committee, chaired by PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley, has asked the PNM La Brea constituency executive to bring another nominee for its consideration.

Bereaux, who was MP from 1191 to 2002, said La Brea is a PNM stronghold constituency and "it remains very strong still." He was confident that the members of the La Brea executive would be working more harmoniously in the coming week to present another nominee to the screening committee.

On Saturday, PNM vice-chairman Robert Le Hunte said he has no intention of bowing out of politics. Le Hunte, who resigned as public utilities minister last month, has been rejected by the committee as a nominee for La Brea. He said the question of bowing out does not arise because he is vice-chairman.

While he was considered the favoured nominee for La Brea, Le Hunte said he has no problem with the party asking for a wider search for nominees. Le Hunte recused himself from the committee's deliberation when it was interviewing the La Brea nominees. The committee has also rejected incumbent La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre.

To date, the PNM has chosen 37 general election candidates. The only constituencies for which candidates remain to be chosen for are La Brea, Arima, Toco/Sangre Grande and Lopinot/Bon Air West. The PNM will screened nominees for the Arima, Toco/Sangre Grande and Lopinot/ Bon Air West seats at Queen’s Hall, St Ann's on Sunday.