Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday offered a bag of pre-election goodies to citizens if they gave her People's Partnership Government another five-year term in office.
Some of the promises Persad-Bissessar said would include the removal of VAT from utility bills for 170,000 senior citizens, creation of 1,000 jobs, and zero tolerance towards crime, which she said would be included in the 2015/2016 People’s Partnership budget presentation for citizens if re-elected.
The removal of VAT, Persad-Bissessar said, would save each pensioner an average of $900 per year on their utility bills.
“We will take a zero tolerance approach to crime by requiring each police station to meet specific crime reduction targets,” Persad-Bissessar said. She said $100 million would also assist in clearing the backlog of cases in our justice system.
“We will ensure that judges can make sure that criminals pay for all crimes, and the public will feel safer and more secure in their own communities.”
Persad-Bissessar said there was much more to be done, but she needed their vote to continue the task at hand for the next five years.
She gave the commitment as she addressed thousands of flag-waving United National Congress supporters last night at the party’s final rally at the Aranguez Savannah.
With one day left before voters go to the polls, Persad-Bissessar urged party faithful to make the right decision when they exercised their franchise.
“How you vote on Monday will decide your future, your progress and that of our nation and children. At a time of volatile oil prices and global uncertainty now is not the time to take the risk of replacing this Government which has delivered. Let us put God forward and move towards victory.”
She described the PNM’s team as uncertain, inexperienced, and a party with no plan.
“Forward ever...Rowley never,” Persad-Bissessar shouted as supporters went into a frenzy.
In the last five years, Persad-Bissessar said, the country had made great strides with its infrastructural development and a strong economy.
Persad-Bissessar said this election was the most inspiring in her political career, having met people from every nook and cranny as they pledged their support for the party. She said their gestures brought “tears to my eyes” and gave her inspiration and hope.
Having struggled as a child in the rural community of Penal, Persad-Bissessar said she obtained a sound education which elevated her out of poverty and made her the strong woman she is today.
In 2010, Persad-Bissessar said, she brought the People’s National Movement to its knees mired as it was in corruption, crime, murders, kidnappings and discrimination.
Persad-Bissessar said before she became PM, she “took abuse, was sidelined and many sought to bring her down,” but her life-long motto to put God in front and walk behind helped her.
“I say here this evening that I will never leave you, not in the worst of times—I will stay with you in service until the day when there are no more days, until I cross the River Jordan, until the end.”
The PM admitted that she faced many challenges and made some mistakes “but each time I came back stronger.”
Among the 2020 promises:
• Removal of VAT from utility bills for pensioners
• Creation of jobs
• Zero tolerance towards crime
• A tablet for every primary school student
• Vouchers for students to obtain laptops
• A laptop for each first-year tertiary student
• Continue building the Point Fortin Highway to San Fernando and Fyzabad, San Fernando to Mayaro Highway, and construction of the Port-of-Spain to Chaguaramas causeway to help alleviate traffic
• Construction of transit hubs in Chaguanas, Arima and St Augustine
• A dedicated bus transportation service for students and industrial workers
• A dry-docking facility in La Brea
• A medical tourism hospital along the East-West Corridor