PNM St Ann’s East MP Joanne Thomas is not contesting the seat and its former MP Anthony Roberts is among nominees to be screened for St Ann’s East today. PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said screening begins at 5 pm at Balisier House for several seats. Thomas, a banker and former alderman/councillor for the area, has served as MP since 2010 after being selected by the Manning administration for the seat. She didn’t respond to calls yesterday on not seeking renomination.
She succeeded Roberts, who was MP from 2002 to 2010 and served as minister in junior and senior capacities in Housing, Social Development, National Security and Labour. Other nominees for St Ann’s East are Eldon Coker and Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly. Coker was a Citizens Alliance candidate against Roberts in the 2002 election but later linked with the PNM and in 2013 was elected PNM councillor for Febeau/Bourg Mulatress.
Thomas is the second PNM MP who is not contesting her seat. Port-of-Spain North MP Patricia McIntosh told the PNM leadership in August she would not be contesting, and attorney Stuart Young was subsequently confirmed as the Port-of-Spain North candidate. Nominees for Port of-Spain South also being screened today are incumbent Marlene McDonald, former city mayor Louis Lee Sing and radio talk show host Isha Wells.
PNM’s Port-of-Spain South executive met last Wednesday and agreed to back McDonald for the candidacy, chairman Jean Elder confirmed. Lee Sing expressed concern about that and other issues with the unit concerning his nomination. Wells, a former Port-of-Spain councillor, who has deep family roots in the constituency, said she would be attending today’s screening and has wished all contenders the best.
Also being screened today are senator Diane Baldeo-Chadeesingh, PNM stalwart/businessman Ronald Heera and Dr Harvey Koylass for Chaguanas East. Screening also will be held for sole nominees for Diego Martin North/East (incumbent MP Colm Imbert) Couva North (Rajdaye Ragbir) and Chaguanas West (Abigail Nandlal).
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Stalemate over SF’do East
Ford said yesterday there was no new development in the San Fernando East issue concerning former leader Patrick Manning and current leader Keith Rowley, save that the PNM’s national executive had postponed nomination submissions for San Fernando East, which were being sought recently. On Manning’s recent letter to Rowley seeking to revert to their original arrangement to meet on the issue, Ford said he could not answer for Rowley whether that would take place.
Rowley was not available yesterday, nor was Manning.
