PNM selects engineer for Laventille East

It was a day filled with excitement and heartbreak, laughter, music, food, and drinks as the PNM selected two more general election candidates, bringing its total number of selected candidates to 34.

As the executive team made its way to the party's Balisier House headquarters on January 23, its members were greeted with cheers from party supporters, while moko jumbies danced about the streets.

The two seats up for grabs were La Brea and Laventille East/Morvant.

The first to receive the nod of approval was Minister of Tourism and the Arts Randall Mitchell for La Brea, who went up against Jermel Pierre. In December, the PNM rejected incumbent MP Stephen McClashie and Brighton/Vessigny councillor Jillon Lewis for the seat.

For Laventille East/Morvant, the PNM selected Christian Birchwood as its candidate. Birchwood was chosen from a pool of four individuals vying to replace MP Adrian Leonce, who bowed out of the race at the last minute.

Birchwood was accompanied by his wife as he left Balisier House on January 24. While speaking with the media, he was handed his younger daughter, whom he hugged tightly and planted a kiss on her cheek.

He is an engineer by profession and hails from Coconut Drive in Morvant. Asked to give some insight into who he was, Birchwood described himself as a loving husband and father. He said he had worked in the oil-and-gas industry for about seven years and spent 13 years in the public sector.

"I'm very ready to work. I am here to serve. I am a servant of the people. I look forward to helping the constituents."

Asked about Leonce offering to work with and help guide the incoming candidate, and whether he was open to receiving guidance, Birchwood said, "I welcome anyone who is willing to work for the best interests of the people. It's always about the people. It should always be about the people, and that's what we are focused on."

The interview ended abruptly as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Faris Al-Rawi interjected to congratulate him, followed by Education Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and Youth Development and National Service Minister Foster Cummings.