Hold that thought. Following yesterday’s People’s Partnership (PP) rally, the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) might want to mull over its declaration last Saturday that the coalition was “dead”.
Coalition supporters at PP’s Couva rally didn’t appear coffin-constrained though yellow was the order of the day and groups of Congress of the People (COP) white and National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) purple were lost amid the United National Congress’ (UNC) signature colour flooding the Ato Boldon Stadium where the PP officially launched its national campaign for the September 7 general elections.
Covered stands on the western side of the large facility were filled to capacity and the court area where three stages were set up, held throngs who clustered first to one stage and then to another as different events occurred. Fleets of maxi taxis lined the road to the stadium, filled the National Cricket Centre nearby, were parked along the Solomon Hochoy Highway and nearby Rivulet Road.
Getting to the venue was a long haul for many who had to walk a long distance from where their maxis were parked to get to the venue. Getting out later in the night was like J’Ouvert, due to music trucks which accompanied some contingents. The covered stands filled slowly since 12.30 pm. But filled they did, as did the wings of adjoining bleachers. Unoccupied territory was the uncovered area behind the stage and where sun was blasting. Smaller stands were set up on the courts.
Between 1 pm and 4 pm, nobody was leaving the shade of the covered stands to prance on the sun-drenched court. As the sun started to descend, contingents of supporters of the various candidates began streaming into the venue, accompanied by tassa and “engine room” percussion
Entertainment featured on one stage had lured those standing, to the centre of the court.
The centre stage featured the PP’s 41 candidates who paraded on and off swiftly. The crowd roared approval every step of the way. There was strong representation by youths and middle-aged supporters, but a smaller number of the very elderly UNC supporters, a fixture at the party’s recent constituency meetings.
“... My cup is full and overflowing,” Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared at rally’s peak (though the court holding a milling crowd, wasn’t as fully and solidly packed wall to wall.
In the stands was UNC- co-founder John Humphrey, his wife Helen, granddaughter Rebecca and UNC foundation member Miguel Bermudez. On the court taking in the scene was former PNMite Dr Bose Sharma of the “Preserve the Balisier” group. Dressed in light blue, he said he’d come to observe. Dr Gregory Bissessar, the PM’s better half, walking among supporters on the court, didn’t stop long enough to entertain the greetings an eager group of young southern fans wanted to convey, leaving them disappointed.
On stage, Roodal Moonilal thundered his displeasure at statements by former US officials who appeared on PNM’s platform last Saturday, “They fas’ and out of place (to criticise the PP ) get to hell out of T&T and take Jack Warner with you!”