Some 424 candidates yesterday filed nomination papers to contest the local government elections on October 21.The People's National Movement (PNM) and Independent Liberal Party (ILP) nominated 136 each, while the People's Partnership coalition of the United National Congress (UNC), the Congress of the People (COP) and the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) nominated 136 candidates.The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) nominated 16 candidates.MSJ leader David Abdulah said his party nominated 16 candidates for electoral districts in Point Fortin, Arima, Tunapuna/Piarco, Chaguanas, Diego Martin and Siparia.
A spokesman at the Elections and Boundaries Commission said yesterday Nomination Day proceeded without any major incident.However, representatives of the PNM and the MSJ said there had been some difficulties for their candidates.Candidates contesting for the San Fernando City Corporation arrived with moko jumbies, tassa and music trucks.At the Siparia Regional Corporation, scenes were the same as a sea of red coloured the main street as the PNM candidates filed nomination papers in the UNC stronghold.Over in Marabella, the colour was white, as Gloria Calliste, the only one of seven PP candidates from the last council to be given the nod this time around, marched to the beat of tassa from the Marabella Roundabout to the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium returning office.Calliste, who is once again contesting the Marabella West seat on a COP ticket, was accompanied by her colleagues Kern Ramdeen, Marabella East candidate, and Erickson Ramkhelawan for Marabella South/Vistabella.
On Sunday, the PNM and the ILP each presented their 136 candidates to contest the elections. Last night, the PP was scheduled to present its mixed bag of candidates who will be contesting the 14 regional corporations under the UNC, COP and NJAC banners.At Palms Club, San Fernando well-known cultural activist Junior Bisnath, waving a national flag, and accompanied by a throng of moko jumbies, caused some raised eyebrows, when he filed papers as the COP candidate for Les Efforts East/Cipero.San Fernando Mayor Dr Navi Muradali won that seat for the COP in the last local government election and is being considered for one of the alderman positions.