KAY-MARIE FLETCHER
Senior Reporter
kay-marie.fletcher
@guardian.co.tt
With the Diego Martin West constituency gearing up to vote in a new Member of Parliament (MP) after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s exit from electoral politics, some residents say they are ready for change.
Former Opposition temporary senator Marsha Walker says she is up for that challenge having recently resigned from the United National Congress (UNC) to join Gary Griffith’s National Transformation Alliance (NTA).
Speaking to Guardian Media on Monday, Walker said she could no longer align herself with a Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led UNC but is committed to helping the people of her hometown of Diego Martin.
“I genuinely love Diego Martin. My husband from here. My parents from here. His parents from here. I’m from here. I love Diego Martin. I shop right there, so I’m not in it for a safe seat. We have no reason for having gang and shootouts and unemployment. There’s no reason for that in Diego Martin. I do not need a PNM voter to switch. I don’t. I need the non-voter to care enough and come out on election morning and vote.”
And to the naysayers who may question her decision to align with NTA’s political leader Gary Griffith, with whom she’s had several public fallouts in the past, Walker said she’s seen a lot of change in him and the NTA has been supporting her for the last couple of years.
She added, “For anyone to say now that I’m joining his party, but in 2023 it was NTA. I had more blue shirts walking behind me in Goodwood, Glencoe, La Puerta than I did with yellow shirts.”
Meanwhile, several residents said they were loyal to the PNM no matter what.
Samuel Scott, 89, said he’s been placing his “x” by the Balisier since 1961.
Asked why he keeps voting for PNM in Diego Martin West, he said he believes it’s the only party that benefits the people.
Scott said, “I’m not supporting no other party but the PNM. All that I have ever achieved is from the PNM, under the PNM government. I’m not supporting any other one.”
Another resident Desmond Ryan said he knows no other party will win the Diego Martin West seat, but he’s willing to support Walker.
Ryan said, “Forget the chance of winning because this is a predominantly PNM constituency, but I’ll vote for her. I am not in favour of the PNM going the 15 years. They didn’t do nothing in 10 for the poor, how they could do for five more? Let us get rid of them for at least five years and let somebody else come. Trinidad and Tobago is not PNM own. It’s not Rowley own and it’s not Stuart Young own. We don’t need a government like the previous government. We want a more citizen-friendly government. We want a government that can diversify and build infrastructure and create jobs. This is what we need in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Walker will be going up against the PNM’s Hans de Vignes and Progressive Empowerment Party’s leader (PEP) Phillip Alexander said his party will also be contesting the seat.
When contacted for comment, de Vignes welcomed the competition.
“Competition is a sign of a healthy democracy—it challenges us to be better and to serve a greater purpose. My focus remains on what’s best for the people of Diego Martin West and ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.”