The PNM is screening prospective candidates for the four constituencies of Port of Spain North/ St Ann's, Port of Spain South, Malabar/Mausica, and Cumuto Manzanilla.
00:00The PNM is this evening screening prospective candidates for the four constituencies of Port of Spain North, St. Anne's, Port of Spain South, Malabar, Mausica and Komodo, Manzanilla.
00:11Urvashi Tuvarubnurain is at Balise House and the screenings began about two hours ago. So Urvashi, what can you tell us?
00:17Well a very good evening to you Disha and of course to our viewers on TV6. Now this evening started with the PNM having 34 confirmed candidates for the upcoming 2025 general election and by the end of this evening they hope to ramp that number up to 38.
00:38Now there are two seats which you mentioned Disha which are going uncontested and those are Stuart Young's Port of Spain North, St. Anne's West seat and of course Keith Scotland's Port of Spain South seats.
00:49They are uncontested this evening. However from our indication the screening committee can decline and they can go back out for perspectives for those seats.
00:59Luckily a celebratory Stuart Young came out a short while ago and we're going to share with you a short clip of what happened.
01:07She will tell us what was the decision of the screening committee.
01:16So guys the screening committee agreed with the executive and our incumbent will be our candidate.
01:38Now I must return to my duties as the chairman of the party and return to screen other potential candidates this evening.
01:52I'd like to thank everybody for coming. I'd like to thank my executive Port of Spain North, St. Anne's West for all of the support they've given me over the last 10 years.
02:02I look forward to their continued support. I'm sure I will get it. I look forward to continued great things from Port of Spain North, St. Anne's West under my elected leadership.
02:15And of course we have other things that are scheduled to take place in the not too distant future. We'll find out about in the not too distant future.
02:23So I am happy to be offered the opportunity once again to serve Trinidad and Tobago by the best constituency.
02:30And I look forward with the support of my constituency to serve the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago as we go forward to win the next general election.
02:48To power and to governance and one thing you can count on is we will give our best and we will always do what is right for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. I love you all.
03:02Now Disha, the screening committee is still deliberating on one of those scenes with Port of Massa.
03:14But as it is now, you're hearing the atmosphere, a lot of pop, the rhythm section is of course explosive.
03:23And that is because Keith Scott-Lund just came out as the successful PNM-Pegasus, successful candidate for Port of Spain South now.
03:32Tracey Robinson, the former chief executive officer, is trying to get Mr. Scott-Lund here with us for an interview.
03:41But in the meantime, let me let you also know that the screening committee, oh, we've got Mr. Robinson here.
03:47Mr. Robinson, how has the process been so far? Any new updates?
03:51It's been exciting so far. They have selected, of course, Minister Stewart-Young.
03:55And all the noise you have heard is MP Scott-Lund has just been re-selected as a prospective candidate.
04:00And of course his constituents are happy.
04:02And the rest of the evening, what can we expect for the rest of the evening?
04:06Well, they're going to screen W. O'Mara now. They have seven candidates.
04:09And three or four current council members, a former deputy mayor of Arima, an attorney at law, an administrative professional and a media professional.
04:16So that is going to be now happening. So the executive just went upstairs.
04:20So that might take a little while.
04:22Yes, of course. We have a rigorous screening process.
04:24And even though sometimes I see one candidate come forward, they still go through the paces to make sure that this is the right candidate for the seat.
04:31All right. Let me thank you so much for sharing that quick update with us.
04:34I'm sure you want to go and celebrate with the MP Keith Scott-Lund.
04:38Thank you very much.
04:39Thank you very much. So we do hope to chat with Mr. Scott-Lund in a short bit.
04:45Just to remind you that the screening committee is still deliberating on the Komoto Manzanilla seat.
04:51Now, of course, that is a UNC held seat.
04:54There were two persons who prepared themselves and presented themselves before the screening committee.
05:00They are David Kasuku and Jason Saunders.
05:03Now, we did chat with them as soon as they came out from the screening process.
05:06And we're going to share with you some of their comments.
05:09The process was very simple.
05:11We had two candidates from our constituency.
05:14And we are looking for a positive outcome today.
05:18Well, as you are aware, my background is agriculture.
05:21Komoto Manzanilla is an agriculture-based community.
05:24And I've served at different levels in the agriculture sector for a number of years.
05:29And I'm currently the youth agriculture ambassador to the Ministry of Youth Development.
05:33Well, there's a lot of opportunities for young women and younger persons who are seeking entrepreneurial skills,
05:42programs and services that are offered by the government,
05:45and a more awareness program to be implicated in those communities that need some assistance.
05:51The process was, I would say, simple.
05:54It was not difficult. The questions were not difficult.
05:58And I feel that I am confident that I was able to answer all the questions and make my point clearly.
06:06I always wanted to get myself involved in politics, but I did not know the process.
06:11So this time around, I believe I was lucky that people helped me to get through.
06:16And I was confident.
06:18I am very lucky that ILAS was who they chose, supported the race, and gave me an opportunity to be selected.
06:30All right, Disha. Well, as I mentioned, the screening committee is still deliberating on that.
06:34See, previously they sent out for nominees, and they were not satisfied with those persons.
06:40I believe this is maybe the second or third time that they have sent out for interested persons for that Komoto Manzanilla seat.
06:48And as Mr. Robinson mentioned a short while ago, Disha, the last remaining seat was that seat held by Lisa Morris-Julian,
06:57formerly Dabody O'Mara. It's now being called Malabar Mausica.
07:01There are seven persons vying for that spot.
07:05Those seven persons are currently before the screening committee, and they will be screened individually, one by one.
07:11And of course, we'll continue to bring you updates as they continue to unravel.
07:14We'll also try to secure an interview with Mr. Scott. It's back to you.
07:21From Balize House, still to come in tonight's news.
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