A total of 21 candidates were screened for the nine electoral districts within the San Fernando City Corporation at the party’s regional headquarters in San Fernando on Thursday night.
The screening panel was led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and other party executives.
The party’s general secretary, Ashton Ford, told the media the party had screened candidates for the Arima and Diego Martin Corporations on Wednesday night at the Balisier House in Port-of-Spain.
“As I said last night we were at Balisier House where we dealt with Arima Corporation and Diego Martin Corporation. We took decisions for those two corporations and we will release the names after the general council on Saturday,” Ford said.
He said the willingness of younger nominees to serve is a good sign for the party’s future.
“I must say we are impressed with the quality of candidates coming forward, they are young people. We have a 26-year-old, a 29-year-old, so it looks as though the party is in good hands because once you offer yourself to serve the community at that age, it signals to the community that you are prepared to work and develop the city.”
Ford said the party would continue its screening until Wednesday.
“Tomorrow we will be screening for San Juan/Laventille Corporation at Balisier House and on Monday we are dealing with Tunapuna and Sangre Grande. Tuesday, there is a break, and Wednesday we are back here in San Fernando for Point Fortin, Mayaro, Siparia and Princes Town corporations.”
Although there was not a large crowd present, the nominees were well received by their supporters after their time in front of the panel. A big screen was also put up across from the office and the Olympic games were streamed live, much to the delight of those waiting outside.
At the end of the screening, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Finance Minister Colm Imbert joined supporters outside to look at the Olympic Men’s 200m race on television.
Candidate hopefuls
Hopeful candidate for Mon Repos/Navet District, Patricia Alexis, told the T&T Guardian that she was confident of her chances as she had been working behind the scenes for quite sometime in the party.
“I’ve been working with the Mon Repos/Navet District for sometime. I served as area manager with San Fernando East (constituency). I’ve also done the local government campaign with the sitting councillor and I’ve also been the campaign manager for San Fernando East, MP Randall Mitchell,” she said.
“So I’m no new face within the constituency, we’re still doing a lot of work in the area so it’s like home, it’s like family.”
Incumbent Springvale/Paradise councillor Naigum Joseph said although he had been through the process already, it was still a learning experience.
“Even though I am an incumbent I felt like it was still a learning process, they asked some questions about local government reform and I think I handled it well,” Joseph said. “I am confident on the work that I have done for Springvale/Paradise and I believe that the national and the local executive knows my ability and knows what I have done.”
Several incumbent candidates, including Mon Repos/Navet councillor Shaka Joseph and Cocoyea/Tarouba’s Rondell Donowa, did not offer themselves for re-election.
San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein also spoke to the media but he declined to speculate whether he would return for a second term in the office, saying, “I don’t know the future, only the master knows that.”
Hosein did say he had accomplished what he set out to do during his term as mayor, including dealing with the city’s homeless problem, traffic problems and beautification of the city.