Changes in PNM, but no bacchanal

Reliable sources indicated Murchison Brown will remain as Port-of-Spain mayor and Steve Castagne, as the chairman of the PNM-controlled Diego Martin Regional Corporation. But the Arima and San Fernando Corporations will have new faces as would the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation.

These were among the decisions taken by the PNM Screening Committee on Wednesday evening. The PNM councillors in these regional bodies would elect the chosen candidates at the next statutory meeting at which all nominated positions (aldermen, chairmen and mayors) would be filled.

Sources said yesterday that Adrian Cabralis is the party’s choice in Arima after Eustace Nancis did not offer himself for re-election. In San Juan/Laventille, Dr Jeffrey Reyes is to be replaced by the chairman of the Barataria/San Juan constituency.

Ian Atherly did not make himself available for re-election to the San Fernando Corporation amidst reports that many were dissatisfied with his stewardship.

Sources said there were seven persons of high calibre being considered for the San Fernando Corporation. Among these is Ken Fergurson, head of an energy company. “The level of debate this evening (yesterday) would be very interesting, given the excellent manpower being proposed from the floor (constituency executives),” a source noted, adding that the final selection would rest with the Screening Committee which is chaired by Political Leader Patrick Manning.

One source explained the need to make changes in some of the corporations saying the party realised different skills were needed at different times.

In the Diego Martin Regional Corporation there will be one new alderman — communications expert Gerald Agostini. Councillor Lyndon George is to be elected as vice-chairman. In the PoS Corporation Adrian Clarke and Francis Pow, (who was an alderman in a previous corporation) will be the new faces, while Noreen Holder is to be retained as an alderman (along with Brown as mayor).

In the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation there will be no changes.

Patricia Meijas will be retained as the chairman. It was not yet clear whether the party would also retain Ronald Boynes, brother of Sport Minister Roger Boynes, as chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

The selection process for aldermen, mayors and chairmen required all the constituency executives to propose candidates for their relevant regions to the Screening Committee which made the final decision.