Six candidates yesterday filed their nomination papers to contest the Chaguanas West by-election. But one of them, Ishmael Samad, stole the early spotlight by staging a demonstration against one of the main contenders, Jack Warner. The others who filed their papers were Khadijah Ameen (United National Congress); Avinash Singh (People’s National Movement); Oliver Norman (National Coalition for Transformation) and Dr Kirk Meighoo (Democratic National Assembly). Samad, who heads the Party for Integrity and Morality in Politics (PIMP), turned up with three supporters bearing placards protesting against Warner’s decision to contest the election for his newly-formed Independent Liberal Party (ILP).
Samad’s party was the first on hand at the Elections and Boundaries Commission’s (EBC) office at Eleanor Street, Chaguanas. He told the media he was there to lodge a protest against Warner over allegations that funds raised for the Haiti earthquake relief programme in 2010 on behalf of Concacaf did not get to those in need. “I’m not fighting any elections, I am fighting a cause and my cause is Haiti. A grievous wrong was done to the people of Haiti,” Samad said. “I’m here to confront Jack Warner and tell the people where the money gone.” Of the nomination process, Samad said although he was on a bond to keep the peace for three years, he was told by EBC officials he was eligible to contest the seat. He said he borrowed $5,000 from the Cathedral Credit Union to pay his deposit.
He said as political leader of PIMP, which has a hammer as its symbol, he was ready to do battle but did not expect to win. Samad and his three supporters, however, did not get through the mass of green-clad supporters who accompanied Warner as he arrived around 10.30 am to file his papers. Warner, the former MP for the area, walked with a barrage of supporters from the ILP’s Caroni Savannah Road offices, accompanied by police and large trucks blasting music. Before he entered the office, Warner told reporters the walk “was one for political freedom and political change.” He emerged 15 minutes later flashing his receipt from the EBC. “History is in the making,” he said. “This receipt means that I am now a valid candidate, the die has been cast.” Asked to comment on Samad’s allegations and protest over his candidacy, Warner said: "Ishmael look for a headline. Don’t let him get that from me. “If he wants one there are easier ways by going to the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital. He was sent by the UNC to do this dotishness because they clutching at straws.”
Claiming three councillors from the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation intend to jump ship and join his ILP, Warner said he would campaign at a very dignified level and announced plans for a mass meeting on Friday at Frederick Settlement, Caroni. He said he was “the best vehicle” to show representation, adding he had not had any negative response since he started his campaign. After Warner addressed the media, he and his supporters marched along the Chaguanas Main Road and back to their headquarters. Ameen also arrived with a crowd of supporters, among them Chaguanas Mayor Orlando Nagessar and ministers Rudranath Indarsingh, Ramona Ramdial and Marlene Coudray. She greeted Samad and later was surprised to learn he had thrown his hat in the ring. “I do wish him the best,” she said.
Ameen said she had no skeletons in the closet and any woman in a leadership position who offered herself for public office had to brace herself for scrutiny and attack. She said, however, T&T’s culture was evolving to accept women as leaders. “I am confident that there is no issue that can be brought up against my character,” she said, adding: “People can make all sorts of allegations… I can tell you that none of the allegations you will hear are true.” She reiterated that if there were anything to damage her character, it would have surfaced long before she decided to contest the seat. Ameen said Chaguanas West had been loyal to the UNC and she was confident the party would win again. She added that she would not be engaging in mudslinging during her campaign. Earlier, PNM candidate Singh was the first to submit his paperwork to Everil Ross, the EBC’s returning officer.
Singh and a small bandwagon of PNMites, dressed in red, marched from Saith Park to the EBC office in the overcast weather. Singh said the nomination process was a big day in his life. “It’s the next step in my political ladder,” he said, adding he had started the day with prayers and entertainment before the walk to file his papers. Although he was the “dark horse in the race,” he said, he was hoping the split in support between the UNC and the ILP might increase his chances. “I see something transpiring,” he added. Singh said as the campaign heated up he expected to feel the full blow of political victimisation from the PP Government. He said the Government had already threatened to throw him and other squatters off lands they were farming at Felicity but said that would not deter him. He said the PNM’s opponents in the by-election were the “same old, same old” who could offer nothing and the UNC had lost its way a long time ago. “They came into government without a vision and a plan for T&T,” he said.
Meighoo filed his papers just before 2 pm and said he would hold meetings in the area. NCT leader Nalini Dial and Norman did not initially have the necessary paperwork in order when they first arrived at the EBC at 1 pm but they made it back at 2.50 pm to file. Norman, a 28-year-old UTT student, said he was elated to be in the race.