UNC has a visually impaired candidate to counter PNM’s physically challenged

AS if to counter-attack the PNM’s physically challenged candidate in the July 14 Local Government elections presented on Saturday, the United National Congress yesterday presented a visually impaired candidate - Deonarine Ragoo. Ragoo is partially blind and is the acting manager of the San Fernando Blind Welfare Association. The annoucement was made yesterday at the UNC’s presentation of candidates at Screamers’ Pub in La Romaine. Ragoo was hailed by political leader Basdeo Panday as a man of great courage. Ragoo will contest the Ste Madeleine/Reform districts in the Princes Town Regional Cor-poration. Ragoo, 41, was escorted on stage by party chairman Wade Mark. Mark held on to Ragoo as the other seven candidates approached the edge of the stage and waved to supporters. Ragoo has only 50 per cent visibility and according to Panday, represents the balance in the UNC’s slate of candidates by gender, race, religion as well as other forms of discrimination. The PNM presented Pundit Guya Persad-Maharaj, 44, an amputee who walks on crutches, at the party’s rally on Saturday at Woodford Square. Persad-Maharaj will contest the Otaheite/Rousillac districts in the Siparia Regional Corporation.