THE tussle for leadership of the PNM is now a four-way race with three challengers to the Prime Minister.

Speaking at the end of nomination day on Monday, elections supervisory committee (ESC) chairman Anthony Roberts announced that Dr Rowley, Karen Nunez-Tesheira, Junior Barrack and Ronald Boynes are vying for leadership of the party.

Nominations were filed at the PNM’s Central Office at the corner of Chrissie Terrace and Southern Main Road, Cunupia between 8 am to 4 pm.

All except Rowley filed their nominations themselves. Chairman of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation Sigler Jack and chairman of the Diego Martin West constituency office Robert Cezair filed nomination papers on behalf of Rowley, as he was unable to do so owing to parliamentary duties. The two completed the filing at about 11.40 am.

Asked about her prospects of winning, Nunez-Tesheira said: “Dear me! I have never been good with the lotto. I want someone to buy lotto for me so I can play, but this is not lotto. This is about what people think I can bring to the table.”

“I want to make it clear that I am not challenging the government. My chances of winning the party leadership? I hope that what I would have said resonated with the national community...that I will walk the walk. I will not just talk the talk .

With her slate of Kenneth Butcher, who is contesting the post of chairman, and Bishop Victor Phillip for elections officer, Nunez-Tesheira hopes to change the way PNM does business to better reflect what the founding members envisioned for the party.

Nunez-Tesheira said her public statements about concerns over the three-day electoral process reflected her transparency as she hoped the party would be.

In a letter to Roberts, Nunez-Tesheira said the three days of voting: November 26 and 27 and December 4, was of grave concern. She said the three-day voting was not unlawful, just uncommon

[caption id="attachment_979894" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Former finance minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira displays her candidate receipt at the PNM Central Office in Enterprise, Chaguanas after filing her nomination for the position of PNM leader. Alongside her are Don Millington, left, and attorney Peter Taylor. - AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]

She said the ESC responded to her, but the issue raised remained unchanged.

On Saturday, Rowley, when asked about Nunez-Tesheira’s challenge for leadership, said it was a matter of life or death regarding the leadership of the party.

Asked about that, she said: “I take that as a compliment. I don’t know how else to take that. I never thought I was considered that way but if the PM does, I take that as a compliment to me that he sees that I am a good candidate worthy of consideration.”

She said since joining the PNM she has never not been loyal to the party, but there was a sense of disconnect within the party, reminiscent of former French Queen Marie Antoinette who dismissed the suffering of her people saying, “Let them eat cake.”

She said while the government is making insensitive comments