Gail Alexander
Senior Political Reporter
National Transformation Alliance (NTA) leader Gary Griffith has stressed that his party wasn’t involved in inviting UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to a March 12 meeting being held by NTA, HOPE and Community Reformation Network. The three groups have formed the Progressive Alliance coalition.
Griffith distanced himself from the invitation issued by HOPE to Persad-Bissessar for the meeting which will be held at NTA’s Mt Lambert headquarters.
“The NTA was never involved in inviting Kamla Persad-Bissessar to this meeting. The invitation was extended by the HOPE, which is separate from the NTA. Any discussions or arrangements made between HOPE and Kamla Persad-Bissessar remain independent of our organisation,” he said.
“The NTA has always been firm in its commitment to ensuring that the 148,000 voters who stood for transformation in 2007 under the Congress of the People (COP) are never subjected to political manipulation or betrayal again.”
He said between 2010 and 2015, third-party supporters such as the COP, MSJ and others were used for “political convenience” to ensure the UNC secured a 21-seat majority in Parliament “then were dismissed and discarded...”
Griffith added that he rejected the “misinformation being spread regarding our stance on political alliances.”
He explained, “The NTA recognises both the UNC and the PNM as political opponents and, as such, we wouldn’t extend an invitation to one while excluding the other. Our mission is to contest elections on behalf of the people, not facilitate the ambitions of political entities that have historically failed the electorate.”
He invited all citizens—PNM, UNC, or otherwise—to the meeting and urged UNC supporters “to recognise the pattern of deception.” Griffith alleged that Persad-Bissessar had “falsely claimed” that she and her executive were disrespected by the NTA.
“On her statements regarding supposed questions to answer, accountability works both ways. Before attempting to interrogate others, she must first answer for the actions of those within her own party and administration,” he said
He claimed these include “state contracts being awarded to criminal elements under her government, including the construction of police stations.”
“Can she guarantee that such reckless governance won’t be repeated? The release of known criminal figures back onto the streets, who were previously incarcerated, alleged personal relationships between high-ranking individuals in her party and criminal elements, which raise serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest.”
Griffith said these questions must be answered before any discussion of alliances or co-operation can even be considered.
“With regard to her asking for relevance, she conveniently forgets it was she who would call me at all hours of the morning to beg me to walk with her candidates in San Fernando and the East-West Corridor during local Government elections. Were we irrelevant then? Did we pass some test? Is this hypocrisy and ungratefulness on her part?” Griffith asked
On UNC coalition partners, PEP and Love Movement, Griffith added, “Can you please tell T&T who selected them, when was their last political meeting, how many voters they’re bringing? Show when any of them last got their deposits back when contesting elections. Name one other person, besides Phillip Alexander and Lennox Smith, in the PEP and Love Movement respectively.”
HOPE chairman Steve Alvarez said the party is disappointed but unsurprised by Persad-Bissessar’s rejection of its invitation to the March meeting.
“We believe that for T&T to move forward and realise its tremendous potential, we need our best people to participate in the process and that means supporters of both the PNM and UNC,” he said.
“HOPE couldn’t invite the PNM’s leader to the Alliance meeting, they’re in service and we’re attempting to be the better alternative. It’s our belief, based on the history of T&T’s elections, that an alliance is the only path to political victory against the ruling and well-organised PNM. It’s hoped that the UNC is much more than its leader and that its membership will understand the need for unity and join us in an endeavour to be a viable alternative to the present administration.
“With regards to the ongoing war of words between the leaders of the UNC and NTA, it’s our hope that good sense would prevail and they would focus on the task of rebuilding our country rather than continue along a path that benefits no one.”
Alvarez said HOPE deputy leader Louis Lee Sing is away from T&T on personal matters.
“We expect that when he returns, he’ll continue supporting our initiatives. This is a critical time in the history of T&T and the world. The good people must find the mental and physical strength to stand up for good governance and hope or despair would prevail,” he said.