FIVE names have been tossed into the hot political ring in Mayaro, and each of the prospective candidates is said to be optimistic about being the chosen one to represent the People’s National Movement (PNM) in the marginal constituency for the 2007 general election.

Embattled PNM MP Franklin Khan, former party chairman and Works Minister, currently holds the seat.

One of the names popping up is that of former Deputy Chief Magistrate Deborah Thomas-Felix.

Other prospective candidates are said to be Councillor Fitzroy Ottley, businessmen Bunny Mahabirsingh and Clifford Campbell, who is the nephew of late PNM stalwart Victor Campbell, and Michelle Meschier-Boyd.

However, sources revealed to TnT Mirror that at last Thursday’s regional meeting held in Tableland, which was chaired by National Security Minister Martin Joseph, officials warned that no one person was to begin campaigning as there may be several other prospective candidates.

“One top party official told us he had reports that people were campaigning in the constituency as if they were already nominated for the seat,” said a source who attended the meeting.

“He said he wanted none of it.”

The names of the five prospective candidates were announced at the regional meeting.

Mirror, however, spoke to 43-year-old Campbell, one of the names said to be quietly working the constituency in the hope of getting the nod from the party’s hierarchy.

DEBORAH
THOMAS-
FELIX

CLIFFORD
CAMPBELL

MARTIN
JOSEPH

Campbell, a well-known PNM stalwart, told Mirror that he is an activist in the community and has always been helping people.

He is the chairman for Region One in the constituency, and is a director of the Self-Help Commission.

“I’m a businessman; people always come to my office here seeking help in many ways and I assist wherever possible,” the former Elections and Boundaries Commission and National Security employee told Mirror.

“Everyone seem to think I’m the person to fight the seat …”

Campbell, who worked with Khan in three previous campaigns, also faced the screening committee when he sought a nomination to contest the Ortoire/Mayaro seat in the last election.

“Bunny Mahabirsingh, Khan and me were all screened for the seat.

“Khan won, of course,” Campbell recalled.

But he said he’s worried with the perception voters of today have of politicians.

“They feel we are all dishonest; they are not just buying into the promises often made, as they used to,” he contended.

“They want action; they want to see you working, providing their every day needs.”

He said he was recently embarrassed by a question posed to him by a prospective voter.

“A man asked me what will make me different from my thieving uncle (Victor) and my thieving cousin, of course, making reference to Khan, who is now before the courts on corruption charges,” he related.

Campbell explained that Khan is his aunt’s (Victor Campbell’s half-sister) son.

“It tells just how people think of politicians,” he added.

“They just don’t trust anybody with a party card.”

He, however, said that in spite of how politicians are viewed, once called upon he was prepared to work to bring home the seat for the PNM.

“The politics is in my blood; I am a Mayaro boy; I still live here and people believe because I am a Campbell and my uncle served well, it is incumbent on me to carry on his legacy,” he noted.

Back in 1999, Campbell quit his Port of Spain job to take care of several family businesses in the Mayaro community.

He shares a common-law relationship and is the father of one.

Thomas-Felix shot to prominence by blazing a trail for herself as a magistrate.

She also gained respect while on the bench with her stern but compassionate manner of administering justice.

She ran into problems after she protested being transferred to San Fernando and away from a case involving Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday.

Thomas-Felix eventually quit the magistracy and is now a judge at the Industrial Court.