PNM picks nurse to challenge Kamla for Siparia seatParty moving ahead selecting candidates for general elections

  • Oct, Thu, 2024

The People’s National Movement (PNM) has chosen nurse Natasha Mohammed as its prospective general election candidate for Siparia, after completing screening on Tuesday for 19 Opposition-held constituencies.

Mohammed will go up against United National Congress leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has been MP there since 1995.

The selection of prospective candidates for Siparia and other UNC constituencies was conducted on Tuesday when the PNM’s Screening Team, party leader and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, met at their Balisier House headquarters in Port-of-Spain.

The PNM first called for general election nominees for nine of the 19 UNC-held areas in June. It subsequently called for nominees for the ten other UNC-controlled areas in August. Screening was done for the former batch in August and for five more areas in September.

Tuesday’s screening was to select candidates for Siparia, Princes Town, Naparima, Oropouche East and Oropouche West.

A second screening was done for Couva South after Roshan Ramcharan withdrew for personal reasons. PNM officials said businessman Aaron Mohammed is replacing Ramcharan.

Party officials said Mohammed, 32, was chosen from among four other nominees. She’s currently employed at a medical facility and is continuing studies in law and will begin aviation pilot training in 2025. Mohammed comes from a PNM family and is a resident of the constituency. Party officials said she holds a leadership position in the community in religious activities.

In the 2020 general election, PNM candidate Rebecca Dipnarine received 3,855 votes to Persad-Bissessar’s 13,847. Both parties received reduced votes in 2020 compared to the 2015 election.

Also selected on Tuesday was JR&D Furniture Store owner Rocklyn Mohammed for Princes Town. That seat is held by UNC’s Barry Padarath.

Officials said, “We’re going for Princes Town big time, since PNM’s received much encouragement with the Local Government win in Lengua/Indian Walk. We’re building on this success, especially since our candidate is popular for treating everyone in Princes Town like family.”

Chosen for Naparima was businesswoman Sarah Nangoo. UNC MP Rodney Charles, who is estranged from the party, currently represents Naparima.

The PNM also selected Shawn Dubay for Oropouche West (held by UNC chairman Dave Tancoo) and Richard Ragbir for Oropouche East (held by UNC deputy leader Dr Roodal Moonilal).

Alicia seeks Camille’s seat

And as nominations for 15 PNM-held seats opened, there’s competition for Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds from two other nominees, including Port-of-Spain alderman Kareem Marcelle.

Yesterday, PNM sources said so far, a quarter of St Joseph PNM’s 35 party groups had nominated MP Terrence Deyalsingh, who has indicated his interest to contest again.

Deyalsingh did not respond to Guardian Media’s questions about his nomination. Neither has St Ann’s East MP Dr Nyan Gadsby–Dolly replied to a similar query about hers.

Laventille East/Morvant party groups are said to be “solidly behind” MP Adrian Leonce. La Horquetta/Talparo officials expect MP Foster Cummings to have unanimous support for his nomination.

Lopinot/ Bon Air West MP Marvin Gonzales has full party group support, according to constituency chairman Kyle Williams.

“MP Gonzales is a worker. No one’s objected to his nomination,” he said.

Arouca/Maloney officials said nomination papers were submitted by MP Camille Robinson-Regis last Sunday. But former MP for the area, Alicia Hospedales, is said to be also seeking nomination.

D’Abadie/O’Meara’s Lisa Morris-Julian has offered herself for nomination, and so too Arima’s Pennelope Beckles-Robinson. PNM sources said there’s so far no confirmation of any other Arima contenders.

San Fernando West MP Faris Al-Rawi is seeking to contest again, while San Fernando East MP Brian Manning does not have any challengers for that constituency. Party sources rubbished UNC claims that former MP, now Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell, was interested in San Fernando East.

La Brea’s Stephen McLashie has submitted nomination papers to a party group. Ex-Minister Robert Le Hunte said yesterday he hasn’t submitted nomination forms.

Toco/Sangre Grande MP Roger Monroe confirmed he is seeking to represent the area again, but constituency sources expect other people to challenge him.

Tunapuna MP Esmond Forde submitted consent papers on Monday, while Point Fortin MP Kennedy Richards Jr is seeking the nomination.

After the 15 areas are finalised, there will be seven other PNM-held seats to complete: Diego Martin West (held by Rowley), Diego Martin North East (Colm Imbert), Diego Martin Central (Symon de Nobriga), Port-of-Spain North (Stuart Young), Port-of-Spain South (Keith Scotland), Tobago East (Ayanna Webster-Roy) and Tobago West (Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis).

PNM’s selections

*Pointe-a-Pierre – Businessman Mukesh Ramsingh

*Barataria/San Juan – Senate vice president Dr Muhammed Ibrahim

* St Augustine – Minister in the Attorney General’s office Renuka Sagramsingh

*Chaguanas East – Minister in Works Richie Sookhai

*Caroni East -Data analyst Leena Rampersad

* Moruga-Tableland – Secondary school dean Lisa Atwater

*Fyzabad – Project Manager/ Business Development Professional Kheron Khan

*Cumuto-Manzanilla – Agriculture Ministry officer Nadia Ramtahalsingh

*Caroni Central – Signature Hall operator Adam Hosein

* Mayaro – Insurance executive Beatrice Bridgelal

* Tabaquite – Engineer/businessman Anil Ramjit

*Couva South – Businessman Aaron Mohammed

*Chaguanas West – Pastor Winston Mahabir

* Couva North – Brent Maraj

* Siparia – Nurse Natasha Mohammed

* Princes Town – Businessman Rocklyn Mohammed

* Naparima – Businesswoman Sarah Nangoo

* Oropouche East – Richard Ragbir

* Oropouche West- Shawn Dubay

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