A former Congress of the People (COP) deputy political leader has called for the People’s Partnership to begin negotiations on general election arrangements—particularly concerning candidates—to avoid possible conflict. Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas made the call yesterday, signalling that he hopes to contest his Lopinot/Bon Air seat.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar recently said Parliament was due to prorogue by June 2015 and elections were constitutionally due by September 2015 for the latest. Other PP officials subsequently said that was an outer limit and did not rule out an earlier poll.
On Saturday, the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) began screening general election nominees for 12 areas and will continue this week. PNM constituencies yesterday also continued constituency conferences heading to next month’s PNM delegate convention and subsequent membership gathering at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
Douglas, urging the PP to work out its business early rather than last minute, said: “The most critical thing in the Partnership is determining how we will contest the upcoming general elections and we should be beginning immediate negotiations to clarify what will happen and then proceed. “It’s more complicated for us being in a partnership, so I hope the leaders will take it seriously and begin to address that issue immediately rather than wait for the last minutes and we end up with conflict and bacchanal.
“It’s particularly important especially for us in the COP. Most of us (COP) are in marginal, very challenging seats and one needs a head start and the resources to work and demonstrate to the people what you have done and will do. So I hope we’ll get that started soon.” Confirming interest in contesting his constituency again, Douglas said: “I’m a politician by profession, I’ve prepared myself to do this academically and otherwise, so for me it’s not even a question of being involved.”
Douglas, who lives in his constituency and is close to constituents, said he had worked hard at meeting their various demands. “I think I had a difficult proposition to win this seat in the first place. It was lost by the PNM only once before and it took a lot of concentrated and continuous work to win it and it will be more difficult to keep it, so I expect it will require as much or more work to do so.”
Douglas said COP’s executive election is also due next month and he hoped that is completed also. Sources close to former COP leader Winston Dookeran said he was hardly likely to contest his Tunapuna seat again. UNC’s Suruj Rambachan said matters such as general election arrangements/negotiations are dealt with by party leaders and he is sure they will work it out. He said the UNC leader was always in talks with the COP leader.
As for UNC’s internal election which has not yet been held, Rambachan said UNC’s draft constitution was completed and had to be submitted to the party’s executive. After the executive dealt with it, then the party will hold an assembly to ratify it and decide on internal polls, he said.