Despite claims by Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner that Carson Charles is the People's Partnership (PP) choice for the November 4 St Joseph by-election, Charles says he is yet to hear of a candidate being chosen by the Partnership or any of its members.Speaking in the ILP's local government election campaign in San Juan on Thursday, Warner said Charles, head of the National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco), was the party's choice for the election.
"Since I lie, tonight I will tell the nation another lie, according to the Prime Minister because when the Prime Minister was looking for Ian Alleyne to go up for St Joseph and after the cuss he get from the media and them and so on...she begin to backtrack and they were considering Daren Ganga for St Joseph...he say he not going there."They call Vasant Bharath...he say he not going there. They call Ganga Singh. He say he not going there.
"You know something, they call Carson Charles and he say he will go. Let the Prime Minister say she did not call Carson Charles and get him to agree to go for St Joseph on Monday morning...Monday is nomination day. Let she say Jack Warner lie again."In a telephone interview yesterday, Charles said it was well known that he was politically active and was part of the 2007 UNC Alliance campaign as well as the 2010 campaign. He said, however, that did not mean he was a candidate.
Asked if he was considering being a candidate, Charles said it was premature to say.Warner also spoke about Alleyne appearing on the People's Partnership platform at Harris Promenade, San Fernando on Monday night to deny he had been made an offer to contest the by-election for the PP.He asked how come Attorney General Anand Ramlogan had not said he did not speak to Alleyne.
Warner swore Ramlogan had spoken to Alleyne, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar listened and that offers were made to Alleyne."Imagine, a government in power can't find a candidate for St Joseph...You take the seat from Volney and you're not ready to fight it."You take Volney seat...then fight the seat. You begging Tom and Dick and Harry...Prime Minister, put SIS to fight the seat," he said.
UNC deputy leader Dr Roodal Moonilal, in a telephone exchange yesterday said the United National Congress (UNC) had not yet begun its screening process for the St Joseph seat.He said Warner would be "well-advised to look at his own screening and vetting process."Moonilal said the ILP's candidate for Mon Repos/Navet south had withdrawn and every hour another ILP candidate was withdrawing.
"It has been found that several of his candidates have matters before the courts. Not Courts the furniture store, but the high courts."It appears he has been screening candidates at Golden Grove."