The majority of the People's National Movement's Chaguanas East constituency executive walked out of a meeting with the screening committee angry last night over a move to "impose" a candidate whom it does not support.
Only the constituency's chairman, Irvin Isles, remained in the screening meeting just after 7 pm as the rest of his executive stormed out when the screening committee signalled its intention to pick Deowatie Lalchan over businessman Neil Ramsingh to contest the seat in the forthcoming general election.
Ramsingh was the PNM's candidate for Couva North in 2010 but was beaten by UNC's Ramona Ramdial.
Sources said the executive members were frustrated about the decision to choose Lalchan, who did not turn up yesterday because she was screened previously, saying they did not know her and were unhappy with the manner in which the screening committee had gone about the process.
"They want Neil Ramsingh but the screening committee want to put some woman," a source said of the constituency executive members' feeling about the choice.
The T&T Guardian had initially been told that some constituency executive members were "very frustrated and were not interested in returning to Balisier House unless Ramsingh was being considered."
But as the executive retreated to the unlit car park at Balisier House, the chairman remained upstairs with the committee.
Other PNM members also expressed concern about the development because of the concern that the process was dragging on for too long. One said it was too late for objections from the constituency executive. Others said "all we should be interested in now is the election date."
Almost half-and-hour after the majority of his executive left him with the screening committee, Isles emerged and proceeded to meet with his executive members in the carpark. He said he was not prepared to speak to the media.
Party sources later said the committee approved Lalchan.
As the Chaguanas East executive members left Balisier House they expressed their dissatisfaction with the chosen PNM candidate.
Isles, who departed in his car, said: "I don't even know the name of the woman."
He then put up his car window and drove off.
The screening committee also questioned and approved Hafeez Ali to contest the San Juan/Barataria seat yesterday.
Ali, a 41-year-old contractor, got the approval of the screening committee shortly before 8 pm. He said he was not afraid of the incumbent, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan.
"We are hopeful that we will win it (San Juan/Barataria) big when the election is called," Ali aid.
Ali is married and the father of four children. He said he decided to seek nomination after he was "approached by certain individuals in the community and I accepted."
In response to other questions, Ali said he "was born in and grew up in Barataria/San Juan so I know the constituency so I have no problem going up against Dr Khan."
The party was also screening the new prospective candidates for Diego Martin Central up to press time. The nominees were Barry Ishmael, Errol Ashby and Gordon Paul.
The incumbent Dr Amery Brown was rejected by the committee.