United National Congress (UNC) activist Jitnarine Hardeen has opted not to file his nomination papers for the Caroni East seat after he was implicated by ILP leader Jack Warner in tape recordings.
Hardeen had expressed a keen interest in submitting nomination papers for the seat before the June 26 deadline, but withdrew after Warner on Tuesday played tapes in which Hardeen, the former driver of fired minister of the people Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh, was identified as the voice discussing allegations of corruption against the former minister.
The deadline for nominees to file their papers was Friday. Hardeen, also called Bal, is vice president of the party group of Madras Extension Road, Chin Chin, Cunupia (party group number one 1). Dr Tim Gopeesingh is MP for Caroni East, a UNC stronghold seat which he won in 2010.
Hardeen, a Special Reserve Police officer, who has denied that the voice on the tapes is his, has since issued a legal letter to Warner threatening action. In countering Warner's damning recording of telephone conversations, Hardeen alleged that Warner had offered him $250,000 to agree that the voice recorded was his.
On one of the recordings played by Warner, the voice claims to have collected as much as $3 million as kickbacks for contracts awarded through Ramadharsingh's former ministry.
Hardeen also denied in a three-page letter through his attorney Dennis Rampersad that he received $3 million from anyone.
He also denied any knowledge of a relationship between Kristyan Gokool and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as alleged on the recordings played by Warner.
Last month, Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj told the media he wanted to submit his nomination form as a prospective candidate for the Caroni East seat, but had a change of heart.
Instead, Maharaj filed for Caroni Central, which was captured by Ramadharsingh in 2010.