FORMER principal of Naparima College in San Fernando Dr Michael Dowlath is among three candidates chosen to contest the 2025 general election for the UNC.
Dr Michael Dowlatt was chosen to fight the San Fernando West seat along with Saddam Hosein for Barataria/San Juan and Vandana Mohit for Chaguanas East.
They were selected after meeting with the screening committee on Sunday at the UNC party headquarters in Chaguanas.
These three seats are considered marginal seats with Hosein and Mohit incumbents. The People’s National Movement (PNM) Faris Al Rawi is the MP for San Fernando West.
See bios of the three candidates below:
Saddam Hosein is an attorney having been called to the bar in 2014, and has experience both in criminal and civil law.
While at the UWI Cave Hill, Barbados where he read for his Bachelors of Law Degree, Saddam was elected as the President of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Student Association, having to advocate the causes of the Trinbagonian students on campus and promoting this country’s vibrant culture in Barbados.
After returning to Trinidad, he attended the Hugh Wooding Law School where he completed the Legal Education Certificate programme. During his time at the Law School, he represented Trinidad and Tobago as a Prosecutor in New York and won the award of Best Prosecution Brief, defeating some of the top law schools in the US and Canada.
He was coached at this competition by the late Dana Seetahal, SC, and he completed his in-service training at Seetahal’s Chambers. Saddam Graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School on the Principal’s Roll of Honour and won the Justice Wendell Kangaloo Advocacy Award.
Saddam served as a Student Ambassador to the Vice Chancellor promoting the UWI, and was part of a delegation to meet with the UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Nigel E Harris to Discuss issues of CARICOM and Regional issues.
He has served as an Opposition Senator for three years and is currently the youngest Member of Parliament in the 12 th Republican Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago for Barataria / San Juan.
Vandana Mohit is a vibrant, industrious young woman who became the youngest Mayor of Chaguanas following the 2019 Local Government election, and subsequently the UNC Member of Parliament for Chaguanas East in 2020.
She has served on the National Executive as Education Officer and Central Co-ordinator, and is a former Vice-Chair of the UNC’s Women’s Arm.
Vandana grew up in and currently resides in the village of Cunupia. She attended the Endeavour Hindu School followed by Saraswati Girls’ Hindu College where she graduated as the valedictorian and receiver of the Good Citizenship Award.
At the age of 16 she entered Tertiary Level Education at the College of Science and Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) where she attained pursued an Associate Degree in Journalism/Public Relations and a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Mass Communication.
One year later, at 22 years she made a life-changing decision to enter the field of politics with a successful beginning, being elected as the Local Government Representative/Councillor for the Electoral District of Cunupia.
Passionate about success, education has always been a key factor; at the age of 24 she pursued a Masters of Arts Degree in Mass Communication.
The constant influence of the community has encouraged her in building beneficial programmes and projects such as Happy Hands And Feet (Social Development), Youth Empowerment (Safety and Security) and Sports and Cultural Development (Community involvement).
Dr Michael R Dowlath is currently an Educational Consultant.
He retired in January 2021 as principal of Naparima College, San Fernando. He has served as an educator at the Secondary School level for thirty-four 34 years, and 20 as Principal: five years at Iere High School, fifteen years 15 at Naparima College.
He holds a BSc in Chemistry & Biochemistry, a Diploma in Education (Teaching of Science), a 3)Masters in Education (M.Ed), a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD )in Education, and is a Fellow of the Association of Business Executives of London (FABE).
Dr Dowlath has served as a part-time Lecturer at the School of Education, UWI, St. Augustine for 22 years- 1996 to 2018.
Has served as an elder and lay preacher in the Presbyterian Church.
At the National level Dr Dowlath has served as Chairman of the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) 2010-2015, and Interim Chairman of the Cabinet Appointed Standing Committee on GATE 2011-2015.
He is married with two children.
