PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar Thursday announced July 29 as the date for the by-election in Chaguanas West, almost two months after her embattled national security minister Austin ‘Jack’ Warner resigned on April 26.

Warner, who had also submitted his resignation as the chairman of the United National Congress (UNC), the biggest member in the four-party coalition People’s Partnership government, is however not a certainty to contest the election on behalf of the party.

Persad Bissessar told Parliament that she had arrived at the date after holding talks with members of the Muslim community that had expressed some concerns that the by-election would be held during the Holy month of Ramadan.

Warner resigned from government after the publication of a report by the CONCACAF Integrity Committee that had been very critical of the former international football boss.

His removal from the Cabinet followed widespread calls for Persad Bissessar to act immediately on the contents of the report of the CONCACAF Integrity Committee that was released in Panama. Warner did not co-operate with the investigation.

In announcing his resignation s parliamentary representative, a virtual safe seat for the UNC, Warner said “I felt that the proper thing to do would be to offer you my constituents, the explanation and the facts and resign as the Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West in keeping with the highest Parliamentary traditions…..”

He said when he tendered his resignation he had informed Prime Minister Persad Bissessar of his desire to contest the by-election “as a UNC candidate for the Chaguanas West seat as I am UNC to the bone”.

But the party has said that at least seven persons had already filed papers to contest the polls on behalf of the party and Persad Bissessar had already indicated that Warner would not be an automatic choice.