Dowlath: I'll listen carefully to San Fernando West constituents

DR MICHAEL DOWLATH, UNC candidate for San Fernando West, promised to be a good listener for constituents, as he vies for the seat now held by Minister of Local Government Faris Al-Rawi in next year's general election.

He spoke briefly to Newsday on December 2, after his successful screening on November 29 at UNC headquarters in Chaguanas.

Also competing for that candidacy had been Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial and John Michael "Makamillion" Alibocus.

Dowlath told Newsday, "I want to thank the leadership of the UNC, the political leader Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC.

"Now that I have been given the task for San Fernando West, I will be focused and make sure I get the job done."

Newsday asked what he hoped to bring to the job as UNC candidate and possible next MP.

Dowlath replied, "My plan is to listen to the people of San Fernando West and to work with them.

"It's really important to listen to your constituency and work with them, because they are the people who you are here to serve. Focus on the most important issues they have as a priority. It is really important to understand the priorities of the people in your constituency.

"Of all these various issues, it is good to know their priorities and to work with them."

Asked if he had any brief thoughts on facing Al-Rawi, Dowlath said, "No, no. That will come in time."

Al-Rawi beat the UNC's Sean Sobers in 2020 by a 1,802 margin.

Dowlath was due to speak at a UNC cottage meeting headed by Persad-Bissessar in Las Lomas in the La Horquetta/Talparo constituency on the evening of December 2.

Dowlath, now an educational consultant, retired in 2021 as principal of Naparima College, San Fernando.

A UNC statement said he served as an educator at the secondary-school level for 34 years. This included 20 as a school principal, firstly five years at Iere High School and then 15 years at Naparima College.

He has a BSc in chemistry and biochemistry, a diploma, a masters degree and a doctorate (PhD) in education, and is a fellow of the Association of Business Executives of London.

Dowlath was a part-time lecturer at the School of Education, UWI, St Augustine, for 22 years, 1996-2018.

He has served as an elder and lay preacher in the Presbyterian Church.

Dowlath was chairman of the Accreditation Council of TT (ACTT) from 2010-2015 and interim chairman of the Cabinet-appointed Standing Committee on GATE from 2011-2015.

Dowlath advocates for student-centred, holistic education in a spiritually-enhanced environment.

He is married with two children.