Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Manohar won't be screened, can't contest CWC election as UNC

Manohar Ramsaran
Manohar Ramsaran won't be the United National Congress (UNC) candidate for the July 29th byelection in Chaguanas West because he is not a member of the party and the UNC constitution forbids screening of candidates who are not party members.

Ramsaran is a member of the Congress of the People (COP). His party, which is a member a member of the People's Partnershup, has stated that it won't put a candidate in Chaguanas West and would let the UNC candidate alone stand against the People's National Movement (PNM). 

On Monday night COP leader Prakash Ramadhar reiterated that, saying COP would stand with the partnership and support the UNC candidate in the election.

COP said on Tuesday Ramsaran had not consulted the party on the matter.

The UNC began screening candidates on Tuesday evening. The matter of Ramsaran's interest in running for the party came up during a meeting of the UNC's national executive prior to the start of the screening process.

Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who did not take part in the screening, told reporters that NATEX discussed the matter and decided to advise Ramsarn that he would not qualify to be screened because he was not a member of the UNC.

Ramsaran was elected to Chaguanas West, when it was just Chaguanas, in the 2002 general election as a member of the UNC. However, when the COP was formed he crossed over to that party and contested the 2007 election as a COP candidate. He was defeated by UNC rookie candidate Jack Warner, who was re-elected in the 2010 election.

Warner created the vacancy in the constituency when he resigned as MP within days of leaving the cabinet and quitting his post as chairman. He was screened Tuesday night and remains confident that he would get the nomination. 

The party has said it would follow the rules in making its choice. It has planned a political rally for friday evening at Pepper Sauce Road in endeavour at which the political leader would announce the name of the candidate.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai