Doctor may be UNC candidate for San Fernando

A PROMINENT South Trinidad doctor has been identified as the United National Congress’s (UNC) “bombshell” in the Opposition’s Local Government Elections line-up to contest the People’s National Movement (PNM)-controlled San Fernando City Corporation. According to party sources, head of the San Fernando General Hospital’s (SFGH) Opthamology Department, Dr Anirudh Mahabir, is the UNC’s “ace-in-the-hole” for the July 14 polls in San Fernando. While UNC sources could not definitively confirm Mahabir’s candidacy, senior Health Ministry officials said Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday, Mahabir and the party’s attorney met recently with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) in order to clarify certain Civil Service regulations affecting Mahabir’s eligibility as a candidate.  The UNC currently holds the Les Efforts West/La Romaine and Marabella East seats on the Corporation. When contacted yesterday, UNC Local Government Election coordinator Chandresh Sharma said a full list of the party’s local government elections will be released over the weekend.  Attempts to contact Dr Mahabir were unsuccessful.