00:00The United National Congress has received nominations for prospective candidates for
00:05the constituencies of Moruga Tableland, presently held by Michelle Benjamin, Faisabad under
00:10Dr. Lakram Bodo, Karani East under Dr. Rashad Situran, and Uruputu West held by Devindranath
00:17Thanku.
00:18However, with the shake-up in the People's National Movement, where Energy Minister Stuart
00:22Young has been selected as successor to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who plans to resign,
00:28there are calls for UNC leader Kamala Prasad Bisasa to follow suit, while MP Thanku, who
00:34is also Chairman of the UNC, is standing behind Prasad Bisasa.
00:39I am fully supportive of her.
00:41I believe she is the best person available to lead the UNC into government and to become
00:46the next Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, especially given the kind of individual that
00:52the PNM has selected.
00:53It's a chalk and cheese.
00:55We can rescue Trinidad and Tobago, and we have the capability to do it.
00:59We also have the leader to do it.
01:00There is no query in Trinidad and Tobago now as to whether Kamala Prasad Bisasa is the
01:04leader of the UNC or not.
01:06Benjamin says, from her knowledge, she is the only prospective UNC candidate for Moruga
01:10Tableland.
01:12As for the idea that someone else should steer the UNC forward?
01:17When it comes to the United National Congress, we are strong.
01:20As you would have heard my supporter and Stuart in the party, Mr. Bellman, said one leader.
01:24And we acknowledge Kamala Prasad Bisasa, and right now with the current state of affairs
01:28in Trinidad and Tobago, we need someone with experience and someone that had us on a steady
01:33path for progress, which is Kamala Prasad Bisasa.
01:37Benjamin says a priority for her constituency, and by extension the UNC, should it attain
01:43power, is the creation of jobs, especially for the youth.
01:46She believes it is one of the solutions to mitigating crime in the country.
01:50Dr. Bodo has served as MP for Faisalabad for a decade.
01:54He says there is a lot to be done, in particular as it pertains to large infrastructural projects,
02:00in order to raise the tourism profile of that constituency.
02:04It's been very challenging.
02:05It's been difficult for my constituents, as you know, when you're not in government, you
02:10don't have access to resources.
02:11But nevertheless, I have to pay tribute to the constituents who have remained loyal to
02:16the party and to all my constituents.
02:19There are many issues that need to be dealt with.
02:21I've been able to deal with a few through the assistance of the business community and
02:25other stakeholders.
02:26Dr. Bodo indicates that there are one or two competitors for this seat, but it's something
02:32that he believes should be encouraged.
02:35Tanku is expressing confidence in the work he has put in, and as a former member of the
02:39screening committee, he believes the process will be fair.
02:42He arrived hand-in-hand with fellow contender Krishna Prasad Singh, councillor for La Fortune
02:47Deby North.
02:48Whoever the political leader decides and the screening committee decides is the candidate.
02:52That is the candidate that we will all support, and we will stand strongly behind.
02:56I have the added benefit tonight of having been able to see MP Tanku in action over the
03:01last five years.
03:02So I want to say that he has treated me well.
03:04So that's why I'm here with him tonight, and we will sit and the party will decide which
03:09candidate goes forward.
03:10When the four candidates are selected for the area screened on Wednesday, it will bring
03:15the UNC's total to 12 out of 39 seats in Trinidad.
03:19The party has not indicated any intention to run in Tobago.
03:23With the new developments on the political landscape and an election date pending, Tanku
03:28expects the UNC's screening process to pick up in the coming weeks.
03:33Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
Comments