Mervyn Assam Tipped to Face Manning For COP

[Scorpio]

This one stil have me scratching my head. :?

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news2.html

Assam Tipped to Fight Manning

Never say never’

Mervyn Assam admits a COP offer to contest San Fernando East seat
He’s considering it: “Never say never.”
If he accepts, he will face PNM leader Patrick Manning, who has held the seat for more than 35 years
By Vernon Khelawan

A former government minister is the man selected to contest the San Fernando East seat—on a Congress of the People slate—against Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Well-placed sources said yesterday that Trade Minister in the NAR government Mervyn Assam got the nod over several other prospective candidates, after a heavy screening session.

Contacted yesterday, a coy Assam told the Guardian:

“As of now, I am not a candidate.”

He would reveal no more, except to add that his mother always told him “never say never.”

In a radio interview, however, Assam said he was apoproached by the COP and was giving serious consideration to their proposal

He said, “ I haven’t made any decision...Its an extremely difficult decision. I have to think about it, but i know there isn’t very much time.”

But sources close to the COP insisted that Assam—now a radio and television talk show host—was the man who has been chosen to contest.

Manning has held the San Fernando East seat for more than three decades. The closest challenge came from Merle Stephens in the 1986 general election, when he won by some 62 votes.

Narace: Is it official?

Contacted to comment on this latest strategy yesterday, PNM public relations officer Jerry Narace asked:

“Is it official?”

He said only: “I can’t comment on anything that is not official. When it is official, then I would be able to respond to this.”

Last week, when the COP unveiled its list of candidates, its political leader Winston Dookeran told a wildly-waving crowd in Skinner Park that he had the name in his back pocket, mimicking Manning—the PNM political leader—who had taunted the public for months with a claim to have the election date in his back pocket.

[Maccogirl]

Right :D :D :D Why that COP party starting to look more and more like the NAR :lol:

[Scorpio]

MG, doh be too hard on de man nah, remember he was in Dooeran back pocket for a whole week, he must have gotten sat on & farted on all that time, not to mention he must now have a greater appreciation of the first syllable in his name after being so close to one all that time.

Cut de man some slack, yuh hear ?

[cm103]

Right :D :D :D Why that COP party starting to look more and more like the NAR :lol:

Wasn't he a UNC minister in the first Panday administration? Along with Kamla and some other former NAR ministers.

[Scorpio]

i'm just dissappointed that the man in Dookeran's back pocket turned out to be Assam.

You know, the one man in TT politics that has stood up to both maximum leaders Panday & Manning, calling a spade a spade, who vex vex, is Robin Montano, I know he went up against Manning and lost in Sando East, but somehow, I was hoping he was the man who would face Manning again, or at least I thought he would be more visible on the political scene this elections.

sigh !

[Falcon]

Will be nice to hear the hyper-correct English on the platform once more!!!!
Remember this from Bas to Merv live on TV6:

"Yuh win?? :o Yuh Win?? :o Buh d tv say yuh larse!!"

[Dispatcher]

Right :D :D :D Why that COP party starting to look more and more like the NAR :lol:

Wasn't he a UNC minister in the first Panday administration? Along with Kamla and some other former NAR ministers.

Yeah but I thought COP was supposed to be 'New Politics' not recycled discarded politicians. Anyway I sure with the way COP predicting the election outcome, Mervyn will run away with that seat and and stop Manning in his tracks from becoming the Executive President.

[Dispatcher]

Will be nice to hear the hyper-correct English on the platform once more!!!!
Remember this from Bas to Merv live on TV6:

"Yuh win?? :o Yuh Win?? :o Buh d tv say yuh larse!!"

Yes that was a classic moment in TnT TV history. People were on the edge of their seats (pun intended) that night.

[peanut]

What a friggin joke! Mervyn [AssdatIam] Assam to fight Manning :o

Brilliant move Dookeran :lol: :lol: :lol:

[halo]

Assam is the COP's secret weapon against Manning? Steups..what a BIG disappointment. No wonder they are being called the CORPSE. Is mostly "dead" politicians in this party. I still voting for Nicole Dyer though.. :D

[vaio]

Assam is the COP's secret weapon against Manning? Steups..what a BIG disappointment. No wonder they are being called the CORPSE. Is mostly "dead" politicians in this party. I still voting for Nicole Dyer though.. :D

they may be called d corpse by unc but sadly unc cannot at all win d election without them..

[halo]

Assam is the COP's secret weapon against Manning? Steups..what a BIG disappointment. No wonder they are being called the CORPSE. Is mostly "dead" politicians in this party. I still voting for Nicole Dyer though.. :D

they may be called d corpse by unc but sadly unc cannot at all win d election without them..

I know this.

A new strategy has to be worked out on the part of the UNC. I think they should not field candidates in the marginals and also in st. augustine just as a sign of good faith. But that's wishful thinking.

[vaio]

Assam is the COP's secret weapon against Manning? Steups..what a BIG disappointment. No wonder they are being called the CORPSE. Is mostly "dead" politicians in this party. I still voting for Nicole Dyer though.. :D

they may be called d corpse by unc but sadly unc cannot at all win d election without them..

I know this.

A new strategy has to be worked out on the part of the UNC. I think they should not field candidates in the marginals and also in st. augustine just as a sign of good faith. But that's wishful thinking.


Sensible though...a good friend of mine sat down and worked out which seats UNC and COP should have an accommodation and shld be able to win... but nothing of the sort is in sight.

[sylvestter]

what a disappointment

[vaio]

what a disappointment

may be we cld all become politicians so we cld make it happen....no more pnm gov't... :D :D

[halo]

what a disappointment

could you elaborate?

[sylvestter]

what a disappointment

could you elaborate?elaborate on what? with all the talk about name in back pocket, i thought it would have been somebody worthwhile or some formidable opponent....

[halo]

what a disappointment

could you elaborate?elaborate on what? with all the talk about name in back pocket, i thought it would have been somebody worthwhile or some formidable opponent....

or ok..yes..truly a disappointment. Clearly, strategy eludes Dookeran. Who are his power players? Anand Ramlogan?

[Dispatcher]

they may be called d corpse by unc but sadly unc cannot at all win d election without them..

I know this.

A new strategy has to be worked out on the part of the UNC. I think they should not field candidates in the marginals and also in st. augustine just as a sign of good faith. But that's wishful thinking.

And what would be the benefit of that. Why should UNCA give seats to the COP. The PNM will still end up with the most seats. The COP will sit down in parliament with their few seats not wanting any accomation with Jack and Panday and we'll be in the same position we are in today.

Maybe a bigger opposition. But if COP can't see that now, then why should UNCA act in good faith.

And what would be the long term benefit to the country? What about 2012? Still 3 parties. Dooks with his 3-4 seats going round claiming victory all over again. Still the same mess we're in today.

This election we'll just have to accept the PNM and hope the results effect the end of one of the two parties vying for mostly the same voter base.

[vaio]

HIstory will show that an accommodation with Bas yields nothing but disaster

[Parsifal]

As Cro Cro sang........."Paaaattttrriiiiccckkkk is bosssssss!"

[JPersad]

HIstory will show that an accommodation with Bas yields nothing but disaster
Can you repeat that ?

[Maccogirl]

People say UNCA have to make all these changes in good faith, but can anyone say what the COP bargaining with? You playing a poker game you want your challenger to show you his cards and give you some but you have no money to bet what kind of nonsense is that. Mervyn Assam is a joke yes he good and entertaining on the platform but can he beat Manning? Manning must be laughing so hard am surprise we can't hear him.

Seems to me there are a lot of COP candidates out there and are being placed in this same position against the heavyweights of the PNM, don't the COP people understand you cant go into a gun fight with a sling shot, or they keeping their fingers cross for a David and Goliath story, some of these COP candidates are going to be so badly beaten they will never enter politics again.

I agree Robin would of been a good choice, and where is he?? Why they did not put Sadiq another man missing from action, this thing starting to be a joke, I just hope UNCA choice is better and Manning gets some kind of a fight to make him rethink his position but unfortunately I don't feel so

[slayerdave]

They gave up on Cussbud Achong.

[vaio]

HIstory will show that an accommodation with Bas yields nothing but disaster
Can you repeat that ?



HISTORY WILL SHOW THAT AN ACCOMMODATION WITH BAS YIELDS NOTHING BUT DISASTER

[lou_uk]

I listen to Assam on afternoons and people always label him a COP. He has always tried to brush them aside, sometimes laughing them off. Surprised that he is going up though.

I've heard that Dookeran could not keep that paper in his back pocket well enough, as it fell on the floor and somebody tell "Mannin" that he was going up against a man who was not living here, but tried to all of a sudden.

It would be interesting to hear "Mannin's" reaction to this development.

Last night I also heard on the news that they have not yet finalised their candidates for Tobago and the date to officially announce them to the Tobago public according to the story has not yet been confirmed.

Election is a few days away, nomination day is Monday...

[Maccogirl]

I looking for the words to the Calypso ASS-I-AM anyone remember it :D :D

[Vampire_Princess]

well i just googled this gentleman and look what i find:

"Sever all Caroni Limited employees in 2001...rehire 3,500 employees on contract for nine months...sever all contract employees by June, 2002.....pay obligations to farmers contracts (sic) on a phased basis." I shall not go into a detailed account of the Group's report, except to say that it includes detailed breakdowns of what sums of money government would need to expend over the next four years to rid itself-and the country-of the sugar industry.

On the day the story was featured in the Express, Caroni's line minister, Mervyn Assam, confronted by reporters on the matter, said the story was "false, erroneous, scurrilous and must be totally disregarded".

So he lie dry so? :( :(

I see him winning the indian vote....not.... :shock:

[Maccogirl]

Dookeran had a divestment plan for Caroni under the NAR in 1986 now he talking he going to help the sugar workers you think it easy with these fellas :roll:

[vaio]

Dookeran had a divestment plan for Caroni under the NAR in 1986 now he talking he going to help the sugar workers you think it easy with these fellas :roll:

what plan yuh think Bas had...when his cabinet approved the closure of ADB..where >70% of the sugar cane farmers accessed funding to carry out their sugar cane business...Most of the major sugar cane farmers got their funding there.. and the small ones as well... where you think that they cld go with their s/cane slip to get funds...not a commercial bank..is only at ADB this was done... his plan was to cripple their production so that caroni wld close down in a round about way...steuppps...
cabinet minutes showed the approval to close d bank down and give d workers an enhanced package and send them home..David Abdullah's minority report submitted to cabinet showed the adverse effects it wld have... Bas did not want to listen...thank god for he sake RLM overthrow d gov't and PNM just shut down caroni cause that was d plan from the UNC gov't...and all of this was public knowledge..talk abt ah hypocrite.. :roll: :roll:

[lou_uk]

Now that it is confirmed, I expect he would be getting "thousands and thousands" of votes as tourists we had for the Miss Universe Pageant. Will have to find another program (temporarily :D ) to listen after 4pm for the next few weeks..

[Maccogirl]

Assam says it was Valley statement that propelled him to make his decision to come out and fight Manning :lol: I hope Valley ain't set up the man :D