None of the current PNM councillors on the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation have put their name on the list as nominees for screening for the upcoming local government election.
Councillors Terry Rondon, Simone Gill-Joseph, and Paul Mongolas all bowed out of the race as 16 PNM nominees went before the party’s screening committee at the North Eastern Settlement Community Centre, Sangre Grande, to be chosen for the eight electoral districts in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation on Saturday afternoon.
The mood was serious as about 50 people sat under a tent or stood around the compound talking or joking with each other quietly with no music, drama or fanfare when Dr Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister and PNM leader, arrived to preside over the screening. He did not take any questions from the media.
The focus was on regaining the corporation, which had been shifting out of the PNM's control over the years.
In the 2016 local government election, the PNM tied with the UNC four-four and, in 2019, the UNC won with five councillors to the PNM’s three.
Potential candidates for the 2023 elections include Dave Rambharath and Ronnie La Borde for Cumuto/Tamana; Onella Stewart for Manzanilla/Fishing Pond; Makeda Castellano and David Elvis Guy for Sangre Grande Northeast; Alicia Thomas and Kemba Bradley-Francis for Northwest; Rhunner Khaty-Ann Martin-Moses for Sangre Grande South; Anicia Williams-Penny and Anderson Zoe for Valencia East/Toco; Eva Marie Sharma, Chandar David Gadar, Joseph Thomas, Keisha Riley, and Keva Isaac for Valencia West; and La Toya Lambkin for Vega De Oropouche.
Elizabeth Wharton, a former councillor for Sangre Grande Northwest, said she was there to support all the nominees and that the atmosphere at the screening was “solemn” because they were focussed on the election ahead.
“I'm supporting my PNM family holistically. It's not about which one is your favourite. It's about the executive choosing the candidates and once they are chosen, we are ready to hit the ground.”
Speaking to Sunday Newsday after her screening Williams-Penny said she was not new to politics or the PNM as she was chair of the constituency's women's league. She added she was initially nervous as it was her first screening but she prayed and felt comfortable after a while.
"I am confident. My heart is in it whether or not I get through because I'm here willing to serve."
[caption id="attachment_1019456" align="alignnone" width="1024"] PNM supporters cheer at the party's launch of its local government campaign in Malabar on Thursday. - Roger Jacob[/caption]
Gadar said he was once chair of the sports and cultural committee as well as the chair of the infrastructure committee in the corporation. And although he went out of office in 2010, he stayed on the ground and was involved in the community.
"I am confident of my chances but whether or not it goes my way, if one of the younger ones get chosen, that would be good too because these young ones need to get the opportunity to show their worth."
Grace Courtney
