Just six months into the reign of the People’s National Movement, outgoing Congress of the People (COP) leader Prakash Ramadhar is calling for a fresh realignment of all political forces in the country to oust the party in the 2020 general elections.
Implying there may be sinister motives behind the Government’s introduction of a series of financial measures that would cripple businesses, Ramadhar yesterday questioned whether this was to redound to the benefit of PNM supporters who would have a “fire sale” on properties as a result.
Asked if the COP planned to join another coalition party, Ramadhar deftly avoided the use of the word, saying instead, “The COP is independent and stands alone at this point. But to defeat the PNM at the next general election we need all political forces to come together.
“I do not know if it will take the form of the last coalition or something new, but we can’t risk losing another election. All involved must work together.”
Ramadhar made the call after a press conference at the COP’s Operations Centre in Charlieville, Chaguanas, yesterday. The COP was part of the previous People’s Partnership coalition government which disintegrated after it lost the September 7 general elections.
Last month, Ramadhar, responding to internal party pressure, announced his resignation as COP political leader. However, his resignation will take effect on April 24 when a new political leader is elected during the party’s internal elections.
Surrounded by senior COP members, including general secretary Clyde Weatherhead, yesterday, Ramadhar said a number of contractors and suppliers are on the brink of collapse because the Government said it has a cash flow problem. They are also being squeezed in their attempts to get foreign exchange to pay for imported goods, he said.
Ramadhar said the Government recently disclosed $32 billion in frozen accounts was available to it and asked why it wasn’t being used to pay contractors and suppliers.
VAT, he said, was also the sharp end of a spear hurting the wider population. He said a few months ago, the Government told the country it was running on fumes but is now saying it is not bankrupt. He said he is “very troubled by the Value Added Tax (VAT) con job” on food prices, mortgage increases and coming property tax, all of which will put businesses out of operation and inflict further fear and suffering on citizens, particularly those who recently lost their jobs.
He said the Government and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley have a lot of questions to answer. Ramadhar said the COP will be putting together a team to meet with the Bankers Association and other financial institutions to discuss these issues and the population will be sensitised.
He gave Rowley a four out of ten rating on his performance over the last six months and said he was “very pressed” to give the Government a five.
The Government held a two-day retreat in Tobago on Friday and Saturday after it held its weekly Cabinet meeting at the Magdalena Grand hotel Thursday. A review of the Government’s performance over the last six months was reportedly among the issues to be looked at in the retreat.