UNC election machine in high gear

THE Opposition will shift its election preparations into high gear on Wednesday with an intensive screening of nominees for the seats it holds in the House of Representatives.

On Tuesday, UNC general secretary Dave Tancoo said, “We have nominees for all seats. We have not finalised the candidates.”

Tancoo reiterated that the UNC is not fielding any candidates for Tobago East and Tobago West, which are currently represented by PNM MPs Ayanna Webster-Roy and Shamfa Cudjoe respectively.

Tancoo said nominees were previously screened for Fyzabad, Tabaquite and Naparima. He declined to provide details of the nominees for those seats. But incumbent Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe said he was screened “a few weeks ago.” Incumbent Tabaquite MP Dr Surujrattan Rambachan is not standing for re-election. It is unknown whether or not Naparima MP Rodney Charles will face the polls. Tancoo said on Wednesday there will be screening of seats currently held by UNC members. He did not identify the seats for which nominees would be screened on Wednesday. Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal disclosed he will be amongst those to be screened.

“I have an appointment with the screening committee on Wednesday evening.”

Newsday understands that incumbent UNC MPs Ramona Ramdial (Couva North) and Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie (Caroni Central) will also be screened on Wednesday.

Incumbent Pointe-a Pierre MP David Lee said he is not being screened on Wednesday.

Lee was interested to see MSJ political leader David Abdulah as that party’s Pointe-a-Pierre candidate. When the MSJ announced Abdulah and three other candidates on Monday, Abdulah criticised the PNM and UNC for the closure of Petrotrin in 2018. Lee said, “All I would ask my namesake (is), what did he do to stop Petrotrin closing down?”

On Princes Town, whose MP Barry Padarath was granted an exemption on Tuesday to return home from Florida, Tancoo said, “Screening for Princes Town I believe is one of those seats that we should be doing tomorrow or at least later this week.”

Tancoo declined to give a location and time when the screening would be taking place, citing covid19 protocols. On the UNC’s election preparations, Tancoo said,

“There are good strategic and political reasons for being where we are. I think we are in a very good place.

“To date, the UNC has chosen 11 candidates.”