Canaan/Bon Accord group signs petition supporting Jacob

A group calling itself Concerned Members of the People’s National Movement – Canaan/Bon Accord/Crown Point has written to PNM Tobago Council political leader and chairman of the party’s screening committee Tracy Davidson-Celestine urging incumbent Clarence Jacob be retained to contest the electoral district for the upcoming THA election.

Jacob is the THA Secretary for Settlements, Urban Renewal and Public Utilities.

In a petition, dated October 27, which was also addressed to the PNM general secretary and chairman of the central executive, the group highlighted its “dissatisfaction and disappointment” over the fact that the PNM screening committee has not yet selected a candidate for the area to contest the election.

At a news conference on Tuesday at the PNM’s campaign headquarters, Pump Mill, Scarborough, Davidson-Celestine announced the committee had selected 11 of the 12 candidates, after its screening exercise over the weekend.

She said the committee has not yet decided on a candidate for the Canaan/Bon Accord seat.

Davidson-Celestine told reporters deliberations are still taking place and a decision will be made in due course.

Jacob and Dominique Kerr were screened for the area.

Jacob told Newsday recently he was seeking legal advice after a WhatsApp voice note which made allegations of impropriety at the division went viral. He described it as political mischief during silly season.

In the petition, which has garnered more than 50 signatures, the group said Jacob got the majority of votes from the area’s party groups.

“This overwhelming support for the incumbent came as no surprise, given the track record of performance of Mr Jacob in this area,” the group said.

The group claimed that in the weeks leading up to the selection of candidates, Jacob was “unfortunately and unjustly subjected to damaging public slander” by groups of people.

The group urged the screening committee to reject the allegations and re-select Jacob.

“Already with the wind of the possible non-selection of the incumbent, there is a groundswell of persons unwilling to vote for any other candidate who may be chosen by the screening committee.”

It added: “We know all too well that choosing the wrong candidate to face an election can prove to be detrimental. We can all agree that this election is crucial and we cannot afford to be placed in a disadvantageous position.”

Up to news time on Wednesday, the PNM screening committee had not said if it had made a decision about the Canaan/Bon Accord seat.