(Trinidad Express) Political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced on Sunday night that the United National Congress would contest 24 seats in next month’s general election.
She said the Movement for Social Justice would contest two seats and the Tobago Organisation for the People would contest the two Tobago constituencies.
The Congress of the People and the National Joint Action Committee would share the rest, she said.
’We signed on the seat allocations. But I did not want to reveal the seats because I don’t want people to find out which seats (they are contesting) in the media. We need to discuss this with them first,’ she said.
The opposition forces met in a five-hour-long meeting at Kampo Restaurant, in Chaguanas on Saturday night.
Persad-Bissesar said the issue of the presidency was not discussed.
’That is a constitutional arrangement and it is not ours to give away, to keep or to take. That was never an item for discussion,’ she said.
Persad-Bissesar said, however, that the opposition parties would share a joint platform at the UNC political meeting tomorrow at Charlie King Junction, Fyzabad.
The screening for candidates continued at the party’s headquarters at Rienzi Complex, Couva on Sunday. Candidates vying to represent Pointe-a-Pierre, San Fernando West, O’Meara/D’Abadie, Port of Spain South, Maloney, Lopinot/Bon Air, Diego Martin North East, and Arima faced the screening committee.
And again supporters faced off outside the venue as they came out to support their candidates for Member of Parliament.
Four nominees were screened for the marginal Pointe-a-Pierre constituency – Ganga Bhagwandeen, Omar Khan, William Archie and Wade Mark. And all were confident that they would be chosen.
Bhagwandeen said: “I feel confident. I was born, raised, I got married and I am raising my children in the constituency. I understand the feelings of the residents.” Bhagwandeen arrived at Rienzi Complex with a contingent of supporters bearing placards ‘We love Ganga’ and ‘PAP loves Kamla’.
Khan too said he was ideal for the position because he lived there. And Archie, a school teacher, said he was the most suitable person.
But Mark, who also arrived with supporters, was confident that he would be allowed to continue his work in the constituency.
“My screening was ten minutes long and being a veteran soldier I am always humbled and wait for the final outcome. I look forward to a positive outcome,” he said.
Mark said although he did not live in the constituency, he was representing all the people of Trinidad and Tobago in the Parliament.
Garvin Nicholas, the lone nominee for Diego Martin North/East, said he was ready to remove PNM MP Colm Imbert.
