UNC starts Local Govt screening

UNITED National Congress (UNC) Political Leader, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar headed a screening committee at the party’s headquarters at Rienzi Complex yesterday as the party began its search for candidates in the upcoming Local Government elections.

A press release from UNC General Secretary Dave Tancoo on Tuesday stated that nominations closed on Monday last and that the Local Government Elections are scheduled for Monday October 21.

The statement noted that candidates are being screened for the 136 electoral districts in the 14 municipalities in Trinidad namely, Port-of-Spain and San Fernando City corporations, Arima, Chaguanas and Point Fortin Borough corporations, as well as the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional corporation, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, San Juan/Laventille, Sangre Grande, Siparia and the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional corporations.

Meanwhile, the Congress of the People (COP) has announced its intention to contest seven municipalities in the upcoming Local Government elections.

The UNC is seeking to rebound from its resounding defeat in the Chaguanas West bye-election when the party’s former chairman Jack Warner, who formed the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) after resigning from the UNC, defeated the UNC’s candidate Khadijah Ameen in the bye election.

This came after the People’s Partnership coalition government’s partner Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) was obliterated 12-0 in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections by the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM).

NEWSDAY