UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar says any of the party’s candidates who are elected and who do not put the interests of the people first will be removed from office.

Speaking at the UNC’s presentation of candidates for the 2025 general election at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, on April 5, she said the party made some changes to ensure the best candidates were selected. The UNC coalition which includes the Progressive Empowerment Party, Congress of the People and trade unions are contesting 39 seats.

Of the five who were labelled dissidents for not toeing the UNC party line, only two presented themselves as possible candidates for their constituencies. Former MP for Tabaquite Anita Haynes-Alleyne and former Mayaro MP Rushton Paray were rejected as candidates. Haynes-Alleyne was replaced by Sean Sobers and Paray by Nicholas Morris.