Senate VP gets nod to fight PNM Barataria/San Juan seat

Senate Vice President Dr Muhammed Yunus Ibrahim has been selected to contest the Barataria/San Juan seat for the People’s National Movement (PNM) in the upcoming general election, and PNM Senator Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal has again been chosen to contest St Augustine.

This was indicated by PNM officials yesterday, following Monday’s screening at PNM’s Balisier House headquarters of nominees for five seats. Four southern seats were screened last Friday.

In June, the PNM mandated its executives in the nine Opposition-held areas to seek nominees. The PNM’s Barataria/San Juan constituency executive had submitted the names of four nominees to the party: Ibrahim, Social Development Minister Donna Cox, police officer Roger Mohammed and businessman Shareef Ali.

It is understood that Ibrahim received the most support from the party group. Ibrahim is the nephew of T&T’s first Senate president under the Republican Constitution, the late Dr Wahid Ali, who served from 1971-1986.

Ibrahim was a PNM member for several years before being appointed a senator in June 2021 and Senate Vice President in March 2022. Port-of-Spain born and bred, Ibrahim is a dental surgeon. He has been involved in the San Juan business landscape since 2000. He is on record saying he has a deep love for that community.

In 2005, he opened the San Juan Dental Clinic and Implant Centre. He has also been involved in San Juan as a former director of operations at Ramish and Leela Supermarket.

A past president of the Supermarkets Association, Ibrahim is a devout Muslim and has served on the Capital City Mosque’s board of directors.

Sagramsingh-Sooklal

to contest St Augustine

PNM officials said Sagramsingh-Sooklal, who was chosen to contest St Augustine again after being defeated by UNC’s Kadijah Ameen in the 2020 general election, “is known as a fighter, a true PNM soldier, and a person who always puts her best foot forward no matter the odds.”

She is also a minister in the Attorney General’s Ministry. They said PNM’s St Augustine unit will reformat and consolidate forces “to give her the best support and chance possible.”

Officials said data specialist Leena Rampersad was chosen as a candidate in Caroni East. Chaguanas East officials indicated that Minister of the Ministry of Works, Richie Sookhai, a PNM senator, was chosen there.

But PNM’s Cumuto-Manzanilla unit was sent back to seek more nominees. Those who were screened were communication specialist Sabitree Singh-Saunders and procurement officer Latoya Reyes. That area will return in about three weeks, officials said.

—Gail Alexander

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