UNC, NAR draw election battle lines

BATTLE LINES for the Local Government Elec-tion have been drawn with the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) marshalling its forces to fight the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM)  in the seven local government bodies it currently controls and in the PNM-controlled San Fernando City and Point Fortin Borough Corpora-tions. Meanwhile, the National Alliance for Reconstruc-tion (NAR) will lead the opposition’s charge in the country’s remaining five local government bodies. NAR Political Leader Lennox Sankersingh told Newsday the party will be contesting most of the seats in the PNM-controlled Port-of-Spain City, Diego Martin Regional, San Juan/Laventille Re-gional, Tunapuna/Piarco Regional and Arima Borough Corporations. The NAR leader hinted that the UNC would concentrate the majority of its efforts in Central, South and East Trinidad. He said the party is now in the final stages of screening and expects to have its full slate of candidates ready by weekend.

UNC Local Govern-ment coordinator, Fyza-bad MP Chandresh Sharma said the party has screened 350 nominees for next month’s election, and included in that number are several sitting councillors and heads of local government bodies. He said the UNC was trying to select the best possible slate of candidates for the July 14 polls and incumbent UNC local government representatives would not be guaranteed automatic se-lection.  UNC chairman Wade Mark said yesterday finishing touches were being made to the party’s list of candidates. The PNM is due to launch its Local Govern-ment Election campaign on Saturday at Woodford Square while the UNC launches its campaign 24 hours later. Sankersingh said the possibility of a joint NAR-UNC presentation of candidates at that launch has not been discussed.