Although San Fernando East incumbent Patrick Manning surprisingly withdrew his nomination for the People’s National Movement’s screening yesterday afternoon, he had received the most nominations—13—from the unit’s 33 party groups heading into the exercise, according to the executive’s PRO Anthony Clarke.
But while Manning never eventually faced the screening committee, prior to screening a number of San Fernando East PNMites had tipped young attorney Randall Mitchell to get the candidacy. Mitchell received the second largest number of nominations—nine.
Clarke said another nominee, councillor Rondell Donawa, received eight nominations and the others, including former councillor Malika Blair and former San Fernando West MP Junia Regrello, received under three and five nominations.
Earlier, the San Fernando East executive had met at 2 pm to examine the nominees and to decide on whom to recommend to the screening committee later in the evening.
At the end of its meeting, Manning had received the majority of support and was expected to be the unit’s recommended candidate. The executive’s chairman and vice-chairman then went to Manning’s Vistabella home to inform him of their selection.
However, Clarke last night confirmed that Manning subsequently informed them he was withdrawing. The T&T Guardian understands Manning didn’t give reasons to the officials but sources close to him said he had “his reasons.”
Clarke last night confirmed Manning’s withdrawal “shocked” everybody. He said the chairman later informed the PNM screening team that Manning had withdrawn.
Manning was unavailable for comment last night.
The unit was expected to advise the leader, Dr Keith Rowley, on the issue for him to speak to Manning. Last night his absence from the lineup of nominees for screening at the PNM’s south office was noticeable.
PNM has 15 more areas to screen. PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said screening would continue after Carnival but the party had not yet decided which areas would be done.
PNM aims to complete screening between the end of this month and next month, officials said.