Hours before today's Nomination Day for candidates to contest the November 4 St Joseph by-election, the People's Partnership was still trying to choose its candidate.This is according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who told reporters yesterday the United National Congress (UNC) was still engaged in the screening exercise. She said that could go late into the night.The People's National Movement (PNM) has announced its candidate, Senator Terrence Deyalsingh while attorney Om Lalla was announced as candidate for the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), led by former national security minister Jack Warner.
Sources said Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne and National Infrastructure Development Company (Nido) President Dr Carson Charles were among those being considered by the UNC.
The by-election was called after St Joseph MP, former Justice Minister Herbert Volney resigned as MP. He was forced to do so after House Speaker ruled that he vacate the seat after leaving the party in which he was elected MP. Volney resigned from the UNC and joined the ILP.Persad-Bissessar spoke at yesterday's land distribution ceremony for 771 former Caroni (1975) Ltd workers at Centre Pointe Mall, Chaguanas. The land was part of the Voluntary Separation of Employment Plan under the former government in 2002.
She said the distribution of the two-acre lots for residential and agricultural purposes was the fulfilment of a promise by her PP administration. She denied claims by opposition politicians that it was an election ploy.She said the leases provide the beneficiaries with security, financial strength, and a future."We do not see development as being only mega-projects," she said. Persad-Bissessar opened a new section of the Uriah Butler Highway on Saturday and she said yesterday she would like the entire project to be completed by January next year."Our nation will be only so patient, and while we have done well to deliver this section of the project early, people will not tolerate delays or overruns," she said."Delivery of the completed interchange project therefore remains on course to be delivered at the end of January 2014," she added.