Former Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner is talking to “a lot of people” before he makes up his mind whether he will contest the seat as an independent candidate or not, officials close to Warner said yesterday. Warner failed to answer phone calls yesterday. Officials in his camp were asked about his position following confirmation from the United National Congress (UNC) that he would “automatically expel” himself from the party if he contested the July 29 by-election against UNC’s candidate.
The UNC last week announced Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation chairman Khadijah Ameen as the party’s choice for the by-election. The election arose after Warner resigned from the seat in April after a negative Concacaf report on his tenure as president with the regional governing body for football. UNC elections officer Ramona Ramdial and other party officials have noted the UNC’s constitution, which says members who publicly announce their candidacy for a government or municipal seat when the party already has a candidate in that race will cease to be UNC members. Soon after resigning as MP, national security minister and UNC chairman, Warner signalled he might contest independently if not chosen to contest for the UNC. Officials close to Warner also said last week that Warner had told the UNC’s screening team he would consult with constituents and would “keep his options open” if not chosen. He has scheduled a public meeting in Chaguanas on Friday to announce his decision.
Yesterday, after the UNC’s statements about expulsion, officials working with Warner said they couldn’t say if he would contest independently or not. “All we know is he’s talking to a lot of people, including on the ground, to inform his decision. Whether he would still contest independently or change his mind on that, by Friday, we don’t know at this point,” one spokesman added. They maintained, however, that Warner has much support in Chaguanas West. Warner was doing a walkabout in the seat yesterday. Ameen met yesterday with the Election and Boundaries Commission’s nomination officer in Chaguanas West to do a trial run of next Monday’s Nomination Day exercise. Campaigning begins in ernest next week after the Prime Minister concludes this week’s Caricom summit here in Port-of-Spain.