THE Debe South by-election is now a three-way race among the UNC, PNM and the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP).
This was confirmed by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) in a statement on Monday, after candidates for all three parties filed their nomination papers at its returning office in Debe.
The EBC said there are no independent candidates contesting the February 7 election.
While all three parties and their respective candidates are confident of victory, the incumbent UNC was certain its political fortress in Debe South would not be breached and conquered.
The PEP was the last to complete the nomination process. It took nearly an hour for candidate Lorenzo Sammy to file his nomination papers. During that time, there was movement of PEP officials in and out of the EBC office, as various checks were made before Sammy's paperwork was completed.
In contrast, UNC candidate Khemraj Sunil Seecharan and PNM candidate Judy Sookdeo each took approximately 30 minutes to file their papers.
[caption id="attachment_935019" align="alignnone" width="1024"] UNC candidate Khemraj Seecharan, centre, displays his slip after filing his nomination form at the EBC's office in Debe. With him are Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, and Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo. Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
Seecharan arrived, without fanfare, with a small contingent of UNC members. Sookdeo and her PNM contingent arrived in similar fashion. Sammy was accompanied by tassa drummers and a group of PEP supporters which was larger than the combined UNC and PNM contingents.
Asked about the length of time taken to file his papers, Sammy said, "There were some minor issues, but they were sorted out and we are here now and ready to go."
PEP chairman Felicia Holder reiterated the party's concern that the nomination period for the by-election was too short.
"We raised our concerns based on the fact that the writ of election was not visible. We were not aware of the date.
"In fact, we just saw the writ so that information is going to go back to our attorneys."
The PEP's attorneys, J Young and Co, wrote to the EBC to ask for nomination day for the by-election to be extended from Monday to January 31.
When asked if Sammy filing his nomination papers meant the party would not proceed with legal action if nomination day was not extended, Holder replied, "I don't want to say yes, I don't want to say no.”
Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, who was part of the UNC contingent, had no idea why the PEP wanted to challenge the nomination process.
"What is the PEP? What is that? We don't know them here. We have not seen anybody like that for years in Debe, Penal and so on."
Moonilal said the UNC welcomed the PEP, whichever part of TT they come from.
"We do not believe they will bother the scores, so to speak."
He equally dismissed the challenge of the PNM.
"In Debe South, it will be a very, very clos
