GAIL ALEXANDER
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at 11 am today to discuss the issue of a President.
This was confirmed following UNC's leadership meeting on Thursday with the party's Parliamentary team on the issue of the President.
The Electoral College, comprising both Houses of Parliament, meets on January 20 to elect a President.
The term of incumbent President Paula-Mae Weekes ends in March. Weekes is currently overseas on vacation, due back next Thursday. Nominations for a candidate are to be submitted by next Friday for the latest.
Party officials confirmed that no nominee was chosen by the UNC at Thursday's meeting but the meeting with Rowley was announced. This is at the Diplomatic Centre.
Persad-Bissessar is attending the meeting with "an open mind".
In 2018 the UNC had supported the nomination of Weekes.
UNC officials noted that on Thursday and this morning.
Some attendees at the UNC's Thursday meeting had discussed speculation about the possibility of Senate President Christine Kangaloo for the post and continued their position against that choice due to her status as a politically active person.
UNC deputy leader Roodal Moonilal recently aired UNC's position on that - and against Rowley for President.
Rowley subsequently said he wasn't seeking the post and it would not be an active politician and also "may not" be a retired judge or member of the legal fraternity either.
But speculation on Kangaloo has continued.
Last night, Government officials said an active politician was catered for in Section 21 of the Constitution.
They noted former head of state ANR Robinson and the UNC's nomination of former Senate President Ganace Ramdial.
But most recently the name of former Director of Public Prosecutions, judge and International Criminal Court judge (2014-2021) Geoffrey Henderson was also being tipped.