VALDEEN SHEARS
Just days after he resigned as Minister of Community Development and a member of the United National Congress (UNC), Winston “Gypsy” Peters was given a rapturous welcome by supporters of the People’s National Movement (PNM) when he made a surprise appearance at the party’s public meeting at the Rio Claro Roundabout on Saturday night.
The former minister’s arrival was acknowleged from the platform by chairperson for the evening, Nafeesa Mohammed, as he made his way through the crowd to loud applause. He was also welcomed by the party’s Mayaro candidate, Clarence Rambharat, chairman Franklin Khan and political leader Dr Keith Rowley. Dressed ub a red shirt and smiling broadly, Peters shook hands with several persons in the large crowd before taking up a position near the stage.
“Welcome Gypsy! Welcome Mr Peters, welcome on board!” Mohammed shouted. Rambarath, who had expected to face Gypsy in the battle for the seat, told his former rival he should count himself lucky even though he felt he had been treated badly by the party he once represented. “I want to say to Gypsy, as much as you might be upset and distraught by the treatment they gave to you, say thank God you are alive,” the PNM candidate said.
On a lighter note, Rowley said Peters had gone sightseeing and it was a good thing he had finally found his way back. Rowley said he understood the reasoning behind Peters’ decision. He said all parties, while they may have different methods, ought to share the same objectives but this had not been the case with the UNC, which Peters recently found out for himself.
“My good friend Gypsy simply went sight seeing, but that was okay,” the PNM leader said Later in his address, Rowley again touched on Peter’s defection from the ruling coalition when he recalled Persad-Bissessar’s invitation for citizens to take her hand. He warned citizens against accepting that invitation.
“In fact, my friend Gypsy will tell you don’t take that invitation, don’t even touch that hand!!” he said. Peters, who has been the MP for Mayaro for four years, severed ties with the UNC last week after he was overlooked as a candidate by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Businessman Rushton Paray is the UNC candidate for Mayaro.