Outgoing PNM St Ann’s East MP Joanne Thomas says she told PNM leader Keith Rowley last week of her decision not to contest the seat in the upcoming general election and is also prepared to support whoever is chosen for the candidacy. Thomas is the second PNM MP who has decided against contesting. Port-of-Spain North MP Patricia McIntosh told the PNM leadership in August she would not be running again and attorney Stuart Young was subsequently confirmed as Port-of-Spain North candidate.
Thomas, a well known banking sector professional who has been involved in representing the public since 1996 in local government, became MP in 2010 succeeding former MP Anthony Roberts. Roberts, a former PNM minister, now chairman of San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation, was screened for the seat yesterday, along with Eldon Coker and Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly. Thomas said after speaking to Rowley on her decision, she informed her constituency executive of it.
Thomas, who acknowledged there were constituents who had wanted her to “go up” again, added: “At this point, however, as one MP whose parliamentary contributions, as you would have seen, was always constituency based, can say that I feel a sense of satisfaction concerning the level of my achievements in the constituency.
“There’s a solid foundation already laid for whoever is coming in, including work which was long outstanding over the years. I will now do my best to follow up on things after someone is chosen.” Thomas said she was able to get a lot of social development work done in the area, some through the Government but also a great deal from business sector professionals she was acquainted with from her private-sector career, including the banking field.
She said she would serve with the PNM in whatever capacity she was asked to contribute but, for now, her immediate plans include returning to the private sector.