In the face of significant inroads into territory of its (UNC) coalition partners, political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar told party supporters yesterday that the People’s Partnership could not be in better shape to seek a second mandate from the electorate as the coalition presented its 41 candidates for the September 7 polls.
“There is no room for divisiveness,” she said as she began her speech. The Prime Minister spoke from a stage placed close to the crowd where hundreds of supporters of the UNC, Congress of the People (COP), National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) and Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) gathered at the Ato Boldon Stadium, in Couva.
She said the PP candidates were far superior to those announced by the People’s National Movement at their rally in Woodford Square, Port-of-Spain on Saturday. Today all candidates contesting the election are to present themselves before Returning Officers of the Election and Boundaries Commission.
Even though, political leader of the COP Prakash Ramadhar said late Friday that there were outstanding issues to be worked out after the coalition member lost two key marginals, Tunapuna and San Fernando West, to the UNC, Persad-Bissessar said the Partnership was stronger than ever. Persad-Bissessar said her Government had done a lot in its first term and wanted to build a new T&T in its second term after the September 7 election.
“This is not PNM country. This is the country of the people of T&T,” she said, adding that “we have come too far to turn back now.” Persad-Bissessar said in her second term her government would pursue a policy of zero tolerance on crime and the creation of safe streets, better paying jobs, new roads, linking communities, free healthcare, among other things.
She also commented on the findings of a University of the West Indies study which showed that the introduction of laptops to students from Forms One to Five in secondary schools have not resulted in a significant improvement of their performance. Persad-Bissessar promised to give more computers to first year students at universities and even pupils in primary schools on a phased basis in her second term, if re-elected.
“My plan is to give more laptops,” she said. She also promised to regularise squatters and provide more homes for citizens. As she spoke about Friday’s opening of the Children Hospital, in Couva there was a surprise fireworks display to celebrate the accomplishment. She said crime remains at the top of her Government’s priority, adding that serious crimes have reached its lowest level in 31 years.
The PM said the PP would do more to ensure there was more effective law enforcement and policing and to strengthen the control of our borders. She said the election was a crucial one and citizens should not stand on the wayside but ensure they voted. She said electors have a simple choice: “Forwards with me or backwards with Rowley.”