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Amery Browne pulls out of race for Diego Martin West - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs Dr Amery Browne has withdrawn his bid for nomination to be the PNM candidate for Diego Martin West, the seat now held by the Prime Minister.

The shock announcement came on January 17.

This came after reports that of all contenders for the seat, only young broadcaster Hans des Vignes had so far been backed by any party groups – numbering nine – to be candidate.

Browne wrote a revocation of consent letter to the Diego Martin West PNM Constituency.

He said, "Upon consideration of further advice, I have made the decision to withdraw my name from the Diego Martin West nomination process.

"I therefore revoke consent for nomination for the Diego Martin West constituency."

Browne gave no details of the advice he had received that had led to his revocation of consent.

He added that he remained in full support of the PNM and was completely committed to its best outcome in the upcoming general election.

He concluded, "Thank you for your kind consideration, and I extend gratitude and sincere best wishes to you and the entire constituency team."

Newsday contacted Browne via WhatsApp and he merely sent the text of his revocation letter but did not say if his withdrawal was due to his so far having not been backed by any party groups.

Asked if he might vie for another seat, he did not reply up to press time.

Dr Rowley, 75, has said he will soon bow out of electoral politics and not stand in the 2025 general election, having recently said his 45 years in politics was "a long time."

Browne had signalled his interest in the seat. Having served in the Cabinets of both Rowley and former PM Patrick Manning, he was also cited as a possible contender by some voices in the recent PNM leadership contest in which Energy Minister Stuart Young beat Planning Minister Pennelope Beckles-Robinson.

Under the rules of the PNM, an aspiring candidate to become an MP must be chosen by one or more of roughly two dozen party groups in a constituency.

Newsday understands that as of January 16, the Diego Martin West PNM constituency had received expressions of interest from six individuals.

Des Vignes clearly led the pack, up to that point. So far he has won the support of nine party groups.

In contrast, up to that time none of the other individuals has been backed by any party group, including Browne.

The results so far were: des Vignes – nine, Browne – none, Yokymma Bethelmy – none, Curtis Toussaint – none, Lisedi Felix – none, and Anna Suleiman – none.

Newsday understands any remaining party groups in that constituency have until January 22 to submit their nominations for an individual.

The Diego Martin West constituency executive is due to meet on January 23, for an initial screening of nominees, while the final selection will be made at a later date by the constituency executive together with the PNM screening committee.

Newsday understands the constituency has 25 party groups (inclusive of youth and women's group), of whom nine have made a nomination, thereby leaving 16 still to d

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