Attorney, coach lead contest to succeed Morris-Julian as PNM D'Abadie/O'Meara candidate

An attorney-at-law and a top football coach are ahead so far in a highly-contested field to succeed former D'Abadie/O'Meara MP the late Lisa Morris-Julian as PNM candidate for the constituency in the upcoming general election, as of January 22.

Morris-Julian died, along with two of her children, in a fire on December 16 at the family's Arima home.

So far, about nine people have sent in letters of consent for nomination, with one source recently telling Newsday the number has been varying.

A reliable source told Newsday as of January 22, attorney Sanjiv Boodhu and TT senior men's football coach Derek King had each received the stated support of three party groups. King is constituency vice-chairman.

The deadline for nominations is January 24 and the constituency executive is due to screen all individuals nominated by a party group on January 27.

Newsday was told Lenore Pamphille has the stated support of one party group, which had previously supported Brittany Pierre.

It is understood that Kim Garcia, a councillor, is expected to get the support of a party group which sent her to be screened. Likewise constituency chairman Gillian Lewis was sent to be screened by the party group she chairs, while indications are that another party group is also supporting her, raising her expected tally to at least two nominations.

Newsday was told no party groups had so far declared support for Sheldon "Fish" Garcia or Jeniece Scott, both members of the Arima Borough Council.

The tally could change, as two party groups were due to meet on the evening of January 22 and one  group on January 23.