Nomination day – candidates file papers to contest general election

ON nomination day, April 4, for dozens of contenders to vie for the country's 41 seats in the House of Representatives in the April 28 snap general election.

It is a time to "put your money where your mouth is."

From as early as 9 am, candidates are expected to make their way to their constituency's respective returning officer to file their nomination, likely accompanied by lively supporters.

So far, parties indicating they will vie for the votes of the one million-plus electorate are the PNM, NTA, Patriotic Front plus a coalition of the UNC, PEP, LOVE, OWTU and belatedly the COP, while Tobago voters have a choice of the PNM, TPP and PDP, among others to be announced.

Chief Elections Officer Fern Narcis-Scope on April 3 told Newsday the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) stood ready to do its duty.

She said candidates will each file a nomination form and statutory declaration, plus party candidates filing the party's endorsement plus his/her acceptance of that endorsement.

"So we do have a number of political parties, from media reports, which intend to participate in this exercise and are fielding candidates.

"At this time the information we have is that in Tobago as many as seven to nine parties intend to field candidates in Tobago East and Tobago West. Of course those details will only become available tomorrow, nomination day."

Narcis-Scope said by law the offices of returning officers will be open from 9 am to 12 midday, and then from 1-3 pm.

"In addition to the nomination papers and those letters that I have mentioned, candidates also have to present their deposit ($5,000).

"Of course, it is usually accompanied – certainly for the larger parties – by a lot of fanfare, music, supporters and so on. So it does have a Carnival-like atmosphere.

"So, we the EBC, stand ready to support the exercise tomorrow."

She said any questions or concerns that candidates have, the EBC has been dealing with those as they came in, during the last week.

"Even today, there have been questions raised as to the process, that we have assisted with.

"The returning officers as well have been doing their due diligence in relation to the candidates.

"So, tomorrow is an exciting day in the process, for all parties, and we look forward to facilitating the candidates tomorrow."

With so much uncertainty in the political landscape – in the ascent of party leaders, in how parties arrange themselves relative to other parties, in the rivalry to woo voters, and even in the uncertainty of the world order – nomination day is a milestone helping to anchor the gravitas of the electoral process.

Much has happened in an extremely short time-line, namely the prime ministerial leadership race in which Stuart Young pipped Planning Minister Penelope Beckles by 11/nine votes, the exit of Dr Keith Rowley as PM, the swearing in of Young (once dubbed "Minister of Everything"), the selection of a new and reshuffled Cabinet, and the calling of the election date.

Internally, the PNM had hiccups with its candidate selections in Tabaquite and Cumuto/Manzanilla, although resolved.

Via hugs, high-fives and handshaking at Carnival events like Panorama and doing walkabouts clad in cap, jeans and jersey, Young has sought to "sell" himself as a man of the people, connected to their concerns, in re-booted PNM, while also warmly meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked how could Young be offering "a new chapter", in what Moonilal dubbed "an old book?"

Uncertainty came from the UNC in holding back the results of its screenings for strategic reasons, by the non-selection of the five dissident MPs and by its constant coalition-building, despite the familiar personality of leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, vowing, "No one will love you as I do."

PEP (under Phillip Edward Alexander), LOVE, OWTU and COP will offer candidates in coalition with the UNC.

NTA leader Gary Griffith has kept up a steady stream of regional rallies including roadside distribution of cups of soup to passing drivers and pedestrians in areas as diverse as Lopinot and Mount Lambert. Patriot Front head Mickela Panday has led localised walkouts and made television/radio appearances, if not having had many mass meetings.

In Tunapuna, now held by Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde, high-profile retired policeman Roger Alexander was suddenly announced as UNC candidate.

So far the main parties have been stating their main policies via their political rallies plus paid press ads – with Persad-Bissessar vowing $1 million for any security officer killed on the job, and Young vowing to remove tax from the pensions of retired public servant and cut VAT from school uniforms. Manifestos are expected within days.

Perhaps the best tone for what happens after nomination day was set by Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe and her TPP rival Joel Sampson, recently caught on video in a friendly hug after the the sport minister laughed and jokingly chided, "What all these TPP people doing in my grandmother yard?"