Taylor drops out of election race for "personal" reasons

Peter Taylor has pulled out of the general election on May 24 just days after constituents booed him and told him he failed to represent him during the past two years as the MP for Princes Town South/Tableland.

Patrick Manning told reporters Saturday Taylor withdrew as a candidate on Friday.

On Wednesday, villagers in Moruga chased Taylor away and threatened to support the opposition candidate for the area, Clifton De Coteau.

Read the story: PNM supporters boo Peter Taylor in Moruga

Manning said the People's National Movement (PNM) will have to accept Taylor's decision. He told the media Taylor told him he wants to attend to a number of "personal issues".

Manning dismissed suggestions that Taylor pulled out because of what happened on Wednesday. And he said the party will have no problem finding an alternative candidate.

Manning was putting on a strong face, insisting that his party will win the seat again.

The seat was a new one for the 2007 general election. The UNC alliance won the other Princes Town seat - Princes Town North - and came close to beating the PNM in the south.

The combined opposition vote (UNC and COP) was 9345 - 416 more than the 7,908 that Taylor received. On May 24 the PNM candidate will have to face De Coteau, who will be the only candidate for the opposition.