The Congress of the People (COP) will not be contesting the marginal Tunapuna and San Fernando West seats in the September 7 general election, apparently giving them up to the more dominant partner in the People’s Partnership, the United National Congress.
In making the announcement last night at a candidates rally at Trinity College East, COP leader Prakash Ramadhar said the party, which entered the coalition Government in 2010 with six seats, will now contest eight seats, seven of which are historically won by the People’s National Movement.
Ramadhar himself will contest the St Augustine seat while the only two other incumbents, Dr Rodger Samuel and Dr Lincoln Douglas, will face the electorate again in Arima and Lopinot/Bon Air West, respectively.
Earlier this week, Ramadhar had announced UNC operative Hamlyn Jailal as the party’s candidate for the bellwether seat of Tunapuna, but after Thursday’s night of negotiations among PP leaders Jailal was rejected in favour of a UNC candidate.
On Tuesday, Ramadhar had said Jailal was “the best choice” for that seat.
This means that the UNC will contest at least 26 seats, since the National Joint Action Committee has listed five candidates and the Tobago Organisation of the People has already chosen two candidates.
The COP is the second largest party in the People's Partnership.
Four months ago, Ramadhar was confident when he told reporters that the party would contest at least 13 seats in the next general election. He said then that the party would go after all the seats it had contested in the 2010 elections.
Back in 2010 the party contested the constituencies of Arima, D’Abadie/O’Meara, Lopinot/Bon Air West, San Fernando West, St Augustine, Tunapuna, Arouca/Maloney, Diego Martin Central, Diego Martin West, Laventille East/Morvant, Laventille West, Point Fortin and Port-of-Spain South.
But the fallout among top party members over the five years of the partnership and the ensuing contentious internal party elections have influenced two key players who were successful, Winston Dookeran in Tunapuna and Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan in San Fernando West, to opt out of the election contest.
Last night eight candidates were announced at the Presentation of Candidates Rally, dubbed ‘Serious People, Serious Politics.’
Speaking after the announcement, Ramadhar was tight-lipped about the decision to bypass Jailal, chairman of the UNC’s Tunapuna constituency.
Asked how he felt about the allocation of seats, he said, “We are about quality and we are also about quantity.”
He added, “There are still some outstanding matters that we will resolve. On Sunday I ask you to please be present to see the best slate of 41 candidates for all of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Pressed about the Jailal matter twice, Ramadhar repeated his previous statement.
The COP's candidates:
1. Port-of-Spain South - Cleveland Garcia
2. Diego Martin West - Avonelle Hector
3. San Fernando East - Ashaki Scott
4. Arouca/Maloney - Wendell Eversley
5. D'abadie/O'Meara - Patricia Metivier
6. Arima - Dr Rodger Samuel
7. Lopinot/Bon Air West - Dr Lincoln Douglas
8. St Augustine - Prakash Ramadhar
COP candidates
1. Port-of-Spain South—Cleveland Garcia
2. Diego Martin West—Avonelle Hector
3. San Fernando East—Ashaki Scott
4. Arouca/Maloney—Wendell Eversley
5. D’Abadie/O’Meara—Patricia Metivier
6. Arima—Dr Rodger Samuel
7. Lopinot/Bon Air West—Dr Lincoln Douglas
8. St Augustine—Prakash Ramadhar