Five People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) members vying for the top position as presidential candidate are expected to make their case to the party’s Central Executive Committee today and Friday.

Those in the running include: Opposition Chief Whip and former Home Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira; former health minister, Dr. Frank Anthony; former Attorney General Anil Nandlall; former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali and Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
Although at least one of these is presently before the courts with 19 charges for alleged conspiracy to defraud the state of millions, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has defended all in the running as “fantastic candidates”.

At his weekly press conference on Wednesday he explained that the 35-member Executive Committee which will review the pitches is made up of PPP members including those in the running.

Speaking to the procedure which will take place, he said: “People are free to present in the manner that they wish to. Of course I think some of it might be personal [like] who they are and stuff like that —not that we don’t know who they are—what they’ll bring to the table and also some critical policies or issues that they may want to address before the leadership of the party.”

The newspaper also questioned the Opposition Leader on whether the party would consider a public presentation of the pitches but he denied the same, stating: “I’m sure; maybe, those presentations will end up in the public domain.”

Meanwhile, regarding the final voting process through which the presidential candidate will be selected, Jagdeo stated that this will be determined at a later date. “After the five presentations there will be a meeting and we will determine which day we’ll meet again to probably move to the finalization of the process,” he said.

On the matter of the selection of its prime ministerial candidate, Jagdeo added: “Once we settle this, then we’ll move swiftly into that phase.” The PPP has long been expected to name its presidential candidate with the selection being floated and postponed since the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJs) ruling against Jagdeo’s sought-after third term in June, 2018.

Now, only five are confirmed a part of the race as Jagdeo recently told reporters that the possibility of a “newbie” taking up the position would be harder. He had stated that those in the running are within the age range of 30-50 years old; are used to leadership and have executive experience at the Cabinet level.