#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: Two Candidates Hotly Contest By-Election In Cunupia

[world politics news] 

Two candidates have filed for a hotly-contested local government seat in a January 25th by-election on Trinidad Island in this Caribbean nation.

The seat, which represents the city of Cunupia on the Chaguanas Borough Council, will see candidates Rasheed “Patos” Ali, 70 (People's National Movement) and Richard Sukdeo, 65 (United National Congress.)  The seat became vacant when the previous occupant resigned to run for parliament last year.

Both filed nomination papers Monday, January 4 at the office of the Returning Officer on the Southern Main Road, Cunupia. The city has seen rapid residential growth in recent years. in 2011, the city has a population of almost 9,000.

The nationalist, but center-Left People's National movement has been active since 1956, and is the nation's oldest party.  The United National Congress is currently the opposition party and is also to the center-left in the political spectrum.

The PNM has governed Trinidad and Tobago from 1956–86, 1991–95, and 2001 to 2010, and currently serves as the government. The UNC governed from 1995-2001 and from 2010-2015.

Pictured above: Richard Sukdeo (UNC candidate, courtesy: Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.)

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: Movement For Social Justice Party Unveils Pot Legalization Platform Plank

[world politics news]

The Movement for Social Justice has presented its candidates to contest the next local government elections, and a political platform of repealing the Sedition Act, which dates from the 1920s, and to legalize marijuana, while ensuring that one sector of society does not take control of the industry when it is legalized.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: Parliament To Take Up Marijuana Decriminalization In Sept. Session

[world politics news]

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said legislation to decriminalize marijuana is scheduled to be in Parliament by September. Speaking at the post-Cabinet media conference last week at the Diplomatic Center, Port of Spain he said the draft legislation has nearly been completed and, following Cabinet approval, will be laid in Parliament during the sittings in September.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TRINIDAD: Member Of Parliament Threatens Defamation Suit Against Facebook Posts Attacking Family Members

[world politics news]

A member of Trinidad and Tobago's parliament, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, has threatened legal action against those responsible for two posts on social media attacking his family. In a statement, Rambachan said the posts were "malicious rumors" that bear no truth. He said the statements posted on two public Facebook pages were highly libelous and inflammatory. "Those posts are engaging the attention of my attorneys who have been instructed to use all means available to trace the source of the posts,” he said. Rambachan, who represents Tabaquite, a town in central Trinidad, said he would act to protect his family's reputation. He was responding to posts stating one of Rambachan's relatives is being investigated for a sex-related crime. according to local media.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: Board Says Cops Allegedly Covered Up Pot Find At Prime Minister's Home

[world politics news]

The Police Complaints Authority alleges that police covered up a discovery of four ounces of marijuana found outside a window of now-former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2013. The report noted only that a "plant-like" substance was found. Another police body says its investigation has not been completed, however.

#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: New Ind. Liberal Pty. Leader Takes Over From FIFA-Tainted Founder

[world politics news]

Rehka Ramjit has been elected leader of the Independent Liberal Party, taking over from founder Jack Warner who resigned after the September 7 general elections. Warner, a vice president of FIFA, soccer's world governing body, is fighting extradition over 29 corruption charges. In the election, the party failed to win any seats in the 26 constituencies it contested.

#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar Calls For Commonwealth Observers To Monitor Elections

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has requested an observer team from the Commonwealth for the September 7 general election. The request comes on the heels of a similar one by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley requesting Caricom observers. Rowley says the Persad-Bissessar-led government has "interfered with" a number of state institutions.

#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: Spokesman Warns Legislation Will Destroy Credit Unions; Raise Interest Rates

[world politics news]

A spokesman for the country's credit unions says proposed legislation to change regulations on credit unions would cause administrative burdens and higher financial cost for the organisations, leading to their collapse and higher interest rates. His group has planned protests against the 2014 bills.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Nat'l Security Minister Resigns After Fraud Accusations [world politics news]