Another People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate, Dianne Baldeo-Chadeesingh, has withdrawn from the general election race, the Opposition confirmed yesterday.
Baldeo-Chadeesingh, a PNM Senator, had been chosen for the Chaguanas East constituency last December but the PNM issued a press release yesterday saying she had “withdrawn her candidacy due to personal reasons.”
She did not answer repeated cellphone calls yesterday on what prompted her decision, including whether it was due to external factors (lack of support on the “ground”) or internal reasons (issues within the PNM).
Chaguanas East, among seats considered as marginal, is currently represented by People’s Partnership MP Stephen Cadiz.
Baldeo-Chadeesingh is the second PNM candidate who has withdrawn in as many weeks.
Recently, PNM Tobago East chairman Wendell Berkley, who was initially selected for Tobago East from five other nominees withdrew, also citing “personal reasons.” He was replaced by Ayanna Webster-Roy.
Berkley has declined to detail his reasons for withdrawing but says he will continue supporting the PNM’s campaign.
But Tobago PNM sources yesterday said two polls which had been done prior to selecting Berkely did not favour his chances but he was still selected and later withdrew. Some Tobago PNMites had reportedly disapproved of his candidacy, they said.
On Baldeo-Chadeesingh’s withdrawal, the PNM statement added that the PNM screening team would meet the Chaguanas East executive next week to select candidates from among the nominees who were already screened.
The PNM said Baldeo-Chadeesingh continued as a PNM Senator and “remains fully committed to the PNM’s aims and ideals.”
Baldeo-Chadeesingh had been tipped to be a general election candidate since she was brought into the Senate in December 2013, when PNM’s Senate team was changed.
Following her selection as candidate, she had said her Senate tenure had given her more confidence to face the polls, she was no stranger to Chaguanas East and had heard people were not satisfied with Cadiz’s representation and had hoped to change that.
Fresh process
Yesterday, PNM field officer Indar Parasram, who was Baldeo-Chadeesingh’s Chaguanas East campaign manager, said there were six other nominees who had faced screening unsuccessfully.
They include a teacher, a businessman, a doctor, an accountant and a councillor. He said he assumed they would now be re-screened.
Parasram said Baldeo-Chadeesingh’s campaign team had completed 40 per cent of walkabouts in the area and she “was well on her way to victory.” He said he had returned from New York recently and news of her withdrawal had now reached him.
“But it’s not a setback. We have done our homework in this constituency,” he added.
Asked about reports that the Independent Liberal Party’s Jack Warner may seek an arrangement to contest that seat or put up a candidate there aiding PNM’s chances in the PP-held constituency, Parasram (who is assistant campaign manager of PNM’s national T&T election campaign) said:
“We have no arrangement with anyone. Whoever comes up, we are fighting them. We always contest all seats. PNM fights alone, loses alone, wins alone and governs alone and definitely we will win alone.”
PNM PRO Faris Al-Rawi, Baldeo-Chadeesingh’s Senate colleague, was unavailable to shed light on her decision since he is out of T&T until tomorrow, his office confirmed.
Baldeo-Chadeesingh and Berkley had been among 34 PNM candidates announced just before the end of last month. These comprise largely professionals, including retired security sector officials.
The PNM, which had projected completing screening by the end of last month, still has to finalise candidates for Diego Martin Central and San Juan/Barataria, as well as Chaguanas East, to complete its 41 candidates.
Recently, the PNM rejected the four Diego Martin Central nominee, including MP Amery Browne, and twice rejected nominees from San Juan/Barataria.
PNM officials hinted “new faces” were expected in Diego Martin Central and San Juan/Barataria.