Weeks after indicating that it will not participate in next month’s general election, the Third Force Movement returned to the hustings on Wednesday night insisting that it will find a way to participate in the September 7 polls and also influence the result.
Leader of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) Dr Carson Charles said so at a meeting of the Third Force Movement at Himalaya Club, Barataria.
TFM chairman, Timothy Hamel-Smith, said in a news release last month that there was not enough time for the movement to establish the required institutional framework to become a full-fledged political party to contest the general election.
Hamel-Smith was seated at the head table when Charles said: “The Third Force Movement, in our own way, had to return. We could not stay without taking part.”
Speaking to a crowd of hundreds, Charles insisted: “We will decide how we take part but we must take part.”
He said there were “too many people who want us to take part, too many people who are crying out for what we do and so we are here to say we will be a part of the election coming forward. We will discuss and decide in what way we will do that but we will have our voices heard.”
According to Charles, the Third Force Movement has “the multitudes on our side” and “will not only ensure that we have a better (Peoples) partnership but a more inclusive partnership.”
Saying that he knows he will be saying controversial things, Charles told the crowd the Third Force Movement wanted Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to return as head of Government after the election.
Charles said while Persad-Bissessar had done well “we know you have shortcomings and we want better this time.”
Charles is the president of Nidco which is managing the construction of the billion-dollar Solomon Hochoy Highway extension project from San Fernando to Point Fortin.
Charles says better should be done to deal with the crime problem in Laventille, adding that the small man wants to be included not left behind.
He said if the Prime Minister was to extend her hands to the mass population the crime and violence in the country could end.
“We can heal the country again,” he added.
Charles said Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley was “talking foolishness” about a proposed rapid rail system in T&T and added that such a project was said to be not feasible.
He said a light rail could be more appropriate for T&T.
Hamel-Smith said supporters should express their dissatisfaction about the level of crime and corruption at the highest level in the country.
He said the Third Force was established because of the need to mobilise citizens to make the country a better nation for all.
He said the movement was about giving good governance and integrity to the nation.
According to Hamel-Smith: “We cannot stand by anymore and accept the present position because all we are doing is going further and further down.”
He said the country was “almost at the edge of the cliff ” and supporters should now stand up for change.