PNM confident in Morne Coco/Alyce Glen

THE PNM is confident of retaining the Morne Coco/Alyce Glen district, with a week to go before the January 25 by-election for this district. Expressing this optimism was Sigler Jack, campaign manager for PNM Alyce Glen/Morne Coco candidate Jinelle Schulere-Smart.

Contacted while on walkabout with Schulere-Smart in the district, Jack said the campaign was going excellent to date. Asked if the party is confident of Schulere-Smart retaining the seat, Jack replied, "Definitely."

Jack, who is also Diego Martin Regional Corporation (DMRC) chairman, did not understand why Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar gave the impression at a recent virtual meeting that the UNC had no representative in the corporation.

"She (Persad-Bissessar) doesn't seem to know anything about anything because the UNC has an excellent voice in the DMRC at this time, in the person of Alderman Sterling Chase."

In a video circulating on Facebook, Schulere-Smart said she was excited and committed to listening to the residents of Morne Coco/Alyce Glen. She pledged as councillor to do what she could to build a a healthier, stronger and safer community.

In the same video, Diego Martin Central MP Symon de Nobriga endorsed Schulere-Smart.

The former PNM Morne Coco/Alyce Glen councillor, de Nobriga said, "She's a committed activist and a rising member of the PNM. I think that Jinelle is committed to this community, committed to this district."

Schulere-Smart's sole challenger is the UNC's candidate John Laquis.

De Nobriga, Rural and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein and former Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Terry Rondon were on the walkabout with Schulere-Smart on Sunday.

By-elections are being held in Morne Coco/Alyce Glen and four other local government districts on January 25 because their former representatives were elected to the House of Representatives in last August's general election.

In a letter dated December 9 to President Paula-Mae Weekes, the Prime Minister advised that by-elections should be held in Arima Central (Arima Borough Corporation), Morne Coco/Alyce Glen (DMRC), Hollywood (Point Fortin Borough Corporation), Cunupia (Chaguanas Borough Corporation) and Hindustan/St Mary (Princes Town Regional Corporation).

The former representatives for these respective districts – Lisa Morris-Julian, de Nobriga, Kennedy Richards Jr, Vandana Mohit and Michelle Benjamin – are now elected MPs. The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections also take place on January 25.

Nomination Day for these by-elections and the THA elections was January.