PNM to screen Sookhai for Chaguanas East seat

  • Aug, Tue, 2024

SHASTRI BOODAN
GML Correspondent

Government Senator Richie Sookhai will appear before the PNM Screening Committee in two weeks’ time, as he moves towards becoming the PNM’s candidate for Chaguanas East in the next General Election.

Sookhai says the PNM Chaguanas East constituency executive nominated him as their sole candidate.

He also revealed that 21 party groups in Chaguanas East have endorsed his nomination.

He says once he is confirmed, he intends to hit the ground running.

“My major focus would be on youth development,” Sookhai told Guardian Media.

“The PNM is about building the next generation, and I want to ensure that the people of Chaguanas East benefit from proper representation. I want to do more for the people,” he said.

The Chaguanas East seat has eluded the PNM since the 2007 election. The last PNM candidate to take the seat was Mustapha Abdul Hamid, who was elected MP in 2007. Former Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat failed to win the seat in the 2020 election.

The UNC has been in control of the seat since 2010 when Stephen Cadiz took home Chaguanas East. He was followed by Fazal Karim in 2015 and Vandana Mohit in 2020. Mohit is also the incumbent MP.

At age 45, Sookhai serves as a Government Senator. He succeeded Christine Kangaloo as a Government Senator in January 2023, as she resigned to become President. His maiden contribution in the Senate was on the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

Senator Sookhai was appointed Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport on April 14, 2023.

Prior to this, Sookhai was president of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Managing Director of Sookhai’s Diesel Services Limited.

The PNM opened nominations for the 2025 General Election in June this year for several constituencies including Chaguanas East, Mayaro, St Augustine, Fyzabad, Point-a-Pierre, San Juan/Barataria, Moruga/Tableland and Caroni East.  Those nominations closed on August 15, 2024.

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