PNM screens candidates for four seats on January 27

THE PNM central screening committee will continue to examine nominees for candidacy for the upcoming general election on January27 at Balisier House in Port of Spain.

Four seats are to be screened. These include Port of Spain North/St Ann's West now represented by Energy Minister Stuart Young who PNM MPs have agreed to soon become prime minister-designate. Port of Spain South, held by Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland, will also be screened. Reliable sources told Newsday that Scotland is unopposed as sole nominee.

The other seats to be screened are Malabar/Mausica formerly D'Abadie/O'Meara (now vacant due to the tragic death of former MP Lisa Morris-Julian in a house-fire with two of her children on December 16, 2024), and Cumuto-Manzanilla (where former prospective candidate Nadia Ramtahal-Singh bowed out due to work commitments.)

Sources told Newsday the screening committee will, in time, give a future date for the screening of three candidates forwarded by the Diego Martin West constituency executive.

These are broadcaster Hans Des Vignes, former senator Yokymma Bethelmy and constituency secretary Curtis Toussaint.

From January 23-24, both Des Vignes and Bethelmy increased their tally of support by each gaining the backing of one more party group.

The tally in Diego Martin West stood at Des Vignes – 16, Bethelmy – six and Toussaint – two. The constituency has 25 party groups inclusive of the youth and women's groups.

A nominee needs only one party group's backing to get to Balisier House for selection, where all nominees start with a fresh slate, although the PNM central screening committee may somewhat try to gauge the mood as to any constituency favourite.

Sources told Newsday "nothing has changed" regarding D'Abadie/O'Meara which it seems may offer five nominees for screening. Here, national assistant football coach Derek King has the declared backing of two party groups and attorney-at-law Sanjiv Boodhu is also supported by two party groups, while one group has declared for Lenore Pamphille.

Newsday was told two party groups were likely to support constituency chairman Gillian Lewis and one party group Kim Garcia.

Sources told Newsday that in Cumuto/Manzanilla, Daryl Rampersad and Devica Sookoo – the president and vice chairman of the Agricultural Society respectively – have some backing to appear before the PNM central screening committee on Monday. However, Newsday was told strong sentiment remains overwhelmingly with attorney-at-law Sade Mc Queen-Bernard as favourite, while procurement officer Latoya Reyes also has strong consideration, both remaining as approved nominees by the constituency despite previously not being selected at Balisier House in past attempts to find a candidate.

After the approval on the night of January 23 of Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell for La Brea and engineer Christian Birchwood for Laventille East/Morvant, a PNM statement on January 24 said that out of the 41 seats in TT, the party now had prospective candidates in place for 34 seats.