The Congress of the People (COP) is expected to begin screening by weekend, said the party’s chairman Jamison Bahadur.
He said when nominations closed last week there were over 50 nominations.
He could not confirm that San Fernando West MP Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan had not been nominated. She didn’t answer calls on the matter yesterday.
Other incumbents—Rodger Samuel and Lincoln Douglas— recently confirmed their intent to offer themselves for contest but outgoing Tunapuna MP Winston Dookeran and Seepersad-Bachan had always been mum on their intentions. Dookeran recently announced he was bowing out of politics.
The party’s political leader, Prakash Ramadhar, has encouraged supporters to keep the People’s Partnership alive by continuing to face the challenges that would come during the election campaign and “to always do what is right in the interest of the people.” He made the comment at a fund-raising dinner at Kampo Restaurant, Chaguanas, last Saturday, shortly after various former COP members announced the formation of the umbrella unit, The Third Force Movement.
At the function, Ramadhar expressed his thanks to supporters, saying the COP is more than just a political party.
“It is a body of values, a body of people who are not troubled by the difficulties ahead because they “live the things that they preach: Integrity, honour, decency, commitment, dedication, forthrightness, stick-to-it-tiveness, and as sense of sacrifice... the COP’s support of the COP, has helped to keep the partnership alive.
He said the People’s Partnership was strong and had delivered over 90 per cent of its promises made in 2010, adding that if a country is to succeed then “we must have the best of the best, especially in our leadership.”
Warning supporters that the upcoming election campaign will be fraught with danger with many things that others will say and do, he urged supporters to remain strong and do what was necessary for the good of T&T.