Sinanan: Ramdeen being groomed for Cumuto/Manzanilla

Delivering his maiden address on a PNM platform in Sangre Grande on Friday night, Sinanan told supporters that the UNC has already chosen its candidate for the election in the person of Ramdeen.

“Ladies and gentlemen, watch closely because, from where I am sitting, they have already sent their representative in 2020. He is a fellow senator of mine, Mr Gerald Ramdeen,” he told the party’s faithful.

“Those of you who have been driving around Sangre Grande you will see everyday that Mr Ramdeen is in Sangre Grande. You will see him testing the grounds.” Sinanan urged residents to reject the move by first voting against the UNC in Monday’s Local Government election.

“So, if you want to send a message to them that you don’t want Mr Ramdeen in Grande, you know what you have to do on the 28th (November),” he said.

But, in an immediate response, Ramdeen did not deny or confirm he was being considered for the seat.

Instead, he told Newsday, “I have been elected by the political leader of the UNC to be part of a team that is responsible for delivering the Sangre Grande Corporation back to the UNC. That is my goal at the moment, which is to serve the people of Sangre Grande and Trinidad and Tobago in whatever capacity my political leader chooses to place me.” Ramdeen added: “I am confident that despite all that Mr Sinanan has done to retain the Sangre Grande Corporation from the PNM that Sangre Grande will be returned to the UNC on Monday.” Sinanan, who is also the works minister and PNM deputy political leader, had raised the issue of Ramdeen’s consideration as he slammed the UNC’s tradition of selecting candidates for the Toco/Sangre Grande and Cumuto/Manzanilla constituencies who did not have roots in the region.

“Sangre Grande needs proper representation and the PNM has always put candidates with roots from the area,” he said.

“We have confidence in the people of Toco/ Sangre Grande and Cumuto/ Manzanilla,” he said.

“Compare that to the UNC, Krish Jurai, Christine Newallo-Hosein, Rupert Griffith or Brent Sancho. Ladies and gentlemen, they have never seen it fit to send a representative from Cumuto/Manzanilla.” Urging supporters to support all eight of the PNM’s candidates for the corporation, Sinanan assured there would be transparency on office.