People’s National Movement (PNM) Chairman Franklin Khan yesterday could not say whether former prime minister Patrick Manning will be able to file his nomination papers and face screening should the party’s three San Fernando East candidates be rejected. Khan was giving the media an update on the party’s screening process yesterday at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain.
Khan said the party on Thursday would screen for the Oropouche West, Couva North, Moruga/Tableland, Point Fortin, Caroni Central and San Fernando East constituencies. Christopher Chinapoo, Kenny Phillip and Eva Steel will face the screening committee for San Fernando East. Khan said if no one was chosen to contest the seat, “we send back the constituencies to continue the search.”
Asked if Manning could offer himself in a case where the three candidates are rejected, Khan said: “We ain’t reach that bridge yet...we can’t cross it. All we know is that next week Thursday we have three candidates before us and I don’t want to prejudge what would happen there because I don’t want to make any one of the people who have offered themselves feel in anyway that their position is being jeopardised.”
The PNM has selected 17 of 41 candidates for the 2015 general election. By March, Khan said, the party would have its full slate. Khan said the party’s leader, Dr Keith Rowley, advises candidates not to feel rejected if they are unsuccessful. Commenting on the e-mailgate defamation lawsuit, Khan said Rowley gave a detailed report to the general council, outlining where the missteps occurred in the hearing dates.
“From a party point of view, he (Rowley) continues to say that this is not a party matter but a private suit between the Attorney General in his personal capacity against Dr Rowley.”