One hour before the closure of nominations for the United National Congress (UNC), Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar filed her papers to contest the Siparia seat at Rienzi Complex, Couva yesterday.
She was among 16 people who dropped in nominations before the office closed at 4 pm.
Among those filing nominations yesterday were Attorney General Garvin Nicholas, who is seeking to contest the Diego Martin North East seat, Christine Newallo-Hosein for St Joseph, Ganga Singh for Chaguanas West, Brent Sancho for Toco/Sangre Grande, Dr Roodal Moonilal, for Oropouche East, Stephen Cadiz for Chaguanas East, Ramona Ramdial for Couva North and Devant Maharaj for Caroni Central.
Vasant Bharath also filed nomination papers but did not disclose the constituency he wanted to contest but hinted it was along the East/West corridor.
Several newcomers including the Prime Minister’s protocol officer advisor Barry Padarath also filed nomination papers for Couva North, Ravi Ratiram for Tabaquite, Dr Marwan Abdulla for San Fernando West, Shane Mohammed for Princes Town, Mantab Mohammed for Naparima and Ronnie Forte for Caroni Central.
Persad-Bissessar arrived around 3 pm and greeted hundreds of supporters. Holding up her nomination receipt, Persad-Bissessar vowed to make T&T a safe and prosperous nation if she was re-elected for a second term.
While supporters cheered loudly, blew horns and danced to tassa drums, Persad-Bissessar warned that it would be a mistake to elect Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley as prime minister.
“You will remember in 2010, prior to my government coming into office, the PNM was in decline, thousands were unemployed, crime was at an all time high, families were in distress and the economy was in decline. People were fleeing the country. Murder and violent crimes were at record levels. Corruption was high for too long prior to May 2010 and the politicians had ignored the wishes of the people of T&T,” she said.
She said that within the past five years, government had brought the country out of ruin.
Despite her detractors, Persad-Bissessar said she intended to deliver “security, prosperity and a better future for everyone if given a second term.”
“Our policies aim to deliver more jobs, zero tolerance to crime, safer streets, child care and care for the elderly, new schools for our children, new roads, creating more jobs, linking communities, new hospitals to care for families and new homes as we create a new class of home ownership in T&T,” she said. The audience cheered.
Persad-Bissessar vowed to be a strong and decisive leader.
“There is only one clear choice for Prime Minister. I have a well prepared plan but I need more time to finish the job. (Rowley) has no plan and he will act out of self interest and put our progress at risk. He will waste all we have achieved in the last five years,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Meanwhile, Nicholas said he intended to contest the seat which he lost in the 2010 election to Colm Imbert by 466 votes. He also lost the same seat in 2007. However, he said he has been taking care of the constituents despite his defeat. Saying he wanted a chance to serve, Nicholas said under the People’s Partnership the Paramin primary school was rebuilt and recreational grounds were illuminated.
He said he has made inroads in the constituency and hoped to win the seat this time around.
Moonilal who accompanied the Prime Minister said now that nominations had closed, screening would begin next week. Saying it will be a long and tedious process, Moonilal said screening will have to be done in a fair and objective manner. He said the Prime Minister will disclose the UNC’s slate in due course.