PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jun 29, CMC – Former national security minister Austin “Jack” Warner, whose resignation as a parliamentarian on April 28 triggered a by-election in the Chaguanas West constituency, has been by passed by the ruling party to contest the July 29 election.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar told party supporters on Friday night that the ruling United National Congress (UNC) will be represented in the poll by Khadijah Ameen, 32, who is also acting chairman of the ruling party, a post Warner also vacated in April.
The UNC is the biggest partner in the three-party coalition People’s Partnership government that had decided to send one representative to contest the by-election.
Warner resigned from government and the UNC chairmanship after the publication of a report by the CONCACAF Integrity Committee that had been very critical of the former international football boss.
His removal from the Cabinet followed widespread calls for Persad Bissessar to act immediately on the contents of the report of the CONCACAF Integrity Committee that was released in Panama. Warner did not co-operate with the investigation.
In announcing his resignation as parliamentary representative for Chaguanas West, a virtual safe seat for the UNC, Warner said “I felt that the proper thing to do would be to offer you my constituents, the explanation and the facts and resign as the Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West in keeping with the highest Parliamentary traditions…..”
He said when he tendered his resignation he had informed Prime Minister Persad Bissessar of his desire to contest the by-election “as a UNC candidate for the Chaguanas West seat as I am UNC to the bone”.
But as she announced Ameen, the chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation as the party’s candidate, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said a decision had to be made as to who was the best to meet all the requirements that the party stands for including “honesty, integrity and loyalty.
“It always comes down to making choices; in every constituency we can only have one candidate. And having considered all the factors we made a choice and tonight I am asking you to embrace your candidate and elect that candidate.”
Warner, who was at the public meeting when the announcement had been made, said he would meet with his party groups and discuss his future options on Saturday.
He is carded to have a public meeting to announce his decision on Friday.