UNC mobilises for general elections

UNC vice-chairman, Vasant Bharat, disclosed the figures to reporters after a meeting of the party’s national executive at Rienzi Complex, Couva, on Wednesday night.

Although he declined to name the perspective candidates, he said several sitting parliamentarians had also “expressed interest” in seeking the party’s nod for their respective constituencies.

“Well, the advertisements only just went out and we have some members, as well as current Members of Parliament, who have already expressed interest in being re-nominated for positions, so we have about 16 so far who have put their names forward for re-election,” he said.

However, he noted that dissident MPs Gillian Lucky and Dr Fuad Khan had not yet stated their intention to go up for re-election.

Bharat said with the postponement of the Local Government election by one year, the party had also stepped up its series of public meetings and meet-the-people constituency tour with the first meeting scheduled to take place at Plum Mitan on Monday.

Bharat also described last Saturday’s meeting at the Couva South constituency office which heralded former deputy political leader, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, to the UNC fold as an “exciting meeting” which generated considerable interest in the party’s supporters.

Bharat said the former attorney general had not indicated his desire to contest any of the 41 electoral constituencies “at this time.”

However, he said closing date for nominations was at the end of July.

Asked to address allegations that political leader, Winston Dookeran, had promised to give seats to certain members, Bharat said that power rested on the 11-member screening committee and national executive committee.