Retired ACP Glenda Jennings-Smith was chosen to contest the Toco/Sangre Grande seat for the People’s National Movement (PNM).
Jennings-Smith, 58, said she retired from the Police Service last December.
In an interview after the screening she said she was confident of winning the seat for her political party and was prepared to abide by the rules of the party and serve to the best of her ability.
She added she was committed to doing all she could to help the PNM return to power in the general election this year.
However, president of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Inspector Anand Ramesar, expressed concern about retired officers moving from the Police Service straight into active politics.
He was responding to questions about Jennings-Smith being chosen as a candidate for the PNM. She retired after 32 years’ service.
Ramesar said it was “funny and unfortunate” she would be chosen for that seat as she worked as an officer in that area.
He said it was unfortunate that officers were moving so soon after leaving the service into politics.
He said as soon as former deputy commissioner Mervyn Richardson retired he took up a job at the National Security Ministry on contract. He noted that Richardson was the investigator in the on-going Emailgate probe.
Ramesar said when officers did that, it gave the impression there was “involvement in politics over the years and it compromises the perception that they were not impartial while in the Police Service.”
He said there must be “some rule or period” to elapse before any retired officer could get into active politics.
Ramesar suggested that retired police officers should not enter active politics before a period of two years elapsed after retiring from the service.
Rejected Penny to
decide next move
Penny Beckles-Robinson, who was rejected by the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) screening committee as the prospective candidate for Arima in this year’s general election is seeking an urgent meeting with the constituency executive to determine her next move.
Deputy Mayor of Arima and former T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) president Anthony Garcia was chosen as the candidate. Garcia said he was pleased to be chosen to contest the Arima seat and would do all he could to ensure the seat was won by the PNM this year.
Most of the party groups supported Beckles as their candidate. She was greeted with loud cheers and hugs when she arrived at Balisier House shortly before 7 pm on Wednesday.
Beckles said yesterday she was disappointed by the results but remained committed to the politics.
She said she was committed to serve the people of Arima and was seeking an early meeting with the constituency executive, following which a statement would be issued.
She said it was clear the constituents and the party groups were fully supportive of her.
On Wednesday when she arrived at Balisier House for screening, a large group of her supporters chanted: “Penny, Penny, Penny.”
There was also a “rhythm section” outside the party headquarters but they were advised against playing music during the screening process.
Wednesday’s eight-hour screening process for candidates for the constituencies of Toco/Sangre Grande, Caroni East, Tabaquite and Arima ended around 2 am yesterday.
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Sara Alisa Budhu, 25, a purchasing manager at a private company and former teacher, was chosen to contest the Caroni East seat.
Candidates for the Tabaquite constituency were screened and Kevin Chan, a 26-year-old field operations supervisor, was selected.
Party general secretary Ashton Ford said so far 25 candidates had been approved by the committee.