The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has given People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for San Fernando West Faris Al-Rawi the stamp of validity to run for the constituency in Monday’s general election.
In a letter written to election agent Irwin Elder yesterday, Returning Officer for San Fernando West, Eddison Ramdeen, confirmed the validity of Al-Rawi’s candidacy for the electoral district of San Fernando.
Ramdeen’s letter was in response to a query from Elder following questions over the legitimacy of Al-Rawi’s candidacy by Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal.
Earlier this week, Moonilal suggested that Al-Rawi’s candidacy was not valid as he did not live at the residence for which he had registered as a candidate. Moonilal claimed that because Al-Rawi lived outside of the constituency and not at Ruth Avenue where he had registered, his candidacy could be challenged in a petition following elections.
Moonilal is the campaign manager for UNC candidate for the constituency Raziah Ahmed.
Yesterday, however, Elder said Al-Rawi maintained a family home at the Ruth Avenue address in San Fernando.
He said Al-Rawi had received advice from attorney Douglas Mendes SC, a recognised expert in election petitions throughout the Caribbean, who had confirmed there was no basis in law to challenge his candidacy.
The letter quoted Mendes as saying form 39 in the Representation of the People Act required candidates to state their address, but did not specify residential address.
In an article in this newspaper yesterday, former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC also said no court of law could uphold a petition to remove Al-Rawi.
Elder said yesterday that Moonilal was purposefully ignoring the obvious flaws in his argument, both in law and simple logic, and it was clearly a gross attempt on his part to discourage electors from exercising their constitutional right to vote for the candidate of their choice.
Despite this, charges and counter charges flew again yesterday between Moonilal and Al-Rawi.
During the PP’s motorcade along the East-West corridor, Moonilal told reporters a letter was sent to the acting Police Commissioner and EBC by a San Fernando West constituent, regarding an alleged “false declaration” in Al-Rawi’s nomination which indicated his address as San Fernando. He claimed Al-Rawi’s address on a vehicle purchased recently was Federation Park.
Moonilal said Al-Rawi was free to live anywhere and contest San Fernando West, but wasn’t free to make a false declaration of an address since that was perjury and the UNC would challenge it. He said a petition was being drafted by lawyers on this. He also said there was a process by which constituents could be warned not to vote if a breach had been committed.
However, Al-Rawi told T&T Guardian that he had written the EBC and was informed his nomination was valid.
He also said the PNM had in turn written the acting Police Commissioner seeking the immediate investigation of Moonilal for allegedly undertaking undue influence contrary to the Representation of the People Act and trying to compel voters not to vote for Al-Rawi by falsely claiming his nomination was invalid,
Prior to yesterday’s PP motorcade, UNC Toco/Sangre Grande candidate Brent Sancho was asked about allegations by PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley regarding an alleged Range Rover purchase and about allegations by ILP leader Jack Warner about a “tape” he had in his possession. Sancho replied briefly that he had put all matters in his attorneys’ hands.