PNM's San Fernando West candidate Faris Al-Rawi cannot be removed as a candidate in the 2015 election, even if it is proven that there was an error in his address, says former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
Saying Al-Rawi is not guilty of committing any election offence, Maharaj added there was no court of law in T&T which would uphold a petition to remove Al-Rawi.
"Assuming that the declaration is false and I am not saying that it is, an election petition cannot affect his candidacy or change the result of the election," Maharaj said.
He explained that an election petition had to do with the fairness of the election process.
"Where a person lives as a candidate has no bearings to challenge the result of an election or the candidacy.
"In T&T a person can live anywhere and be a candidate for any constituency. It does not challenge the eligibility of the candidate. No court will entertain such a petition to challenge the result of an election for that reason," Maharaj said.
He noted that only if a person had dual citizenship could that candidacy be challenged.
On Wednesday, deputy political leader of the UNC Dr Roodal Moonilal gave notice he was preparing a petition to challenge Al-Rawi's candidacy on the basis that he breached the Representation of the People's Act.
Moonilal produced a certified copy for a vehicle, belonging to Al-Rawi, bearing the address #1 Tobago Avenue, Federation Park, Port-of-Spain.
Moonilal also said he had utility bills to show that Al-Rawi did not live in San Fernando.