More than a handful of people are so far in the race to become the People’s Partnership’s Chaguanas West candidate, PP officials said on Thursday. Their comments came a day after the announcement by the Muslim community that it did not have a problem if the Chaguanas West by-election date fell in the Ramadan period.
Several Muslim community leaders gave the go-ahead for the by-election during the religious period, at the Government’s post-Cabinet media conference on Wednesday. They spoke after meeting Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the issue that day. Haji Yacoob Ali, however, called on the Government to factor into its considerations the ten-day period at the climax of the month of Ramadan, from July 29 to August 8, when Muslims are confined to mosques.
However, Ali said if the election date was called in that period, the community would still work with that since it was a by-election in one seat alone and only a small part of the Muslim community based there might be affected. On Thursday, PP sources said the Muslim community’s concerns about the ten-day period would be taken into consideration.
After the resignation last month of former Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, the by-election is constitutionally due by August 9. An election date has to be announced at least 35 days before a poll. Nomination Day, in which candidates file nomination papers with the Elections and Boundaries Commission, is usually three weeks before the election date.
In preparation for the party selection process, the United National Congress (UNC) arm of the PP coalition has already been receiving names. The Congress of the People (COP) recently said the UNC, in whose heartland territory the seat is located, would take the lead in choosing candidates. The COP chairmanship reiterated this on Thursday.
According to PP officials, COP’s support in the area is estimated at around 4,000 or so votes out of the 18,767 votes received by Warner in the 2010 general election. PNM candidate Ronald Heera received 1,471 votes then. Warner, who resigned from the Government and party posts after a damning report of his tenure in Concacaf, filed nomination papers last week with the UNC.
However, PP officials said six, plus other names, include that of a religious leader in the area, a medical doctor, an engineer and other professionals. COP member and one-time Chaguanas West MP Manohar Ramsaran has also expressed interest in contesting. The officials said no regional corporation officials or ministers have expressed interest or given names yet.
Some PP quarters still believe Trade Minister Vasant Bharath may be a front-runner for the candidacy, since some in Chaguanas West “want a big name to contest.” Bharath said recently he hadn’t considered it or been asked, but added if he were asked he would have to consider it. Other PP sources have noted Bharath’s comments, as well as that of HDC CEO Jearlean John, who said she was way too busy with her many responsibilities to contemplate candidacy.
PNM officials did not reply to calls on the status of PNM’s preparations for the by-election and its nominees.