Thunder for the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government.
This is what the yet to be sworn in United National Congress (UNC) MPs and Opposition Leader-elect Kamla Persad-Bissessar is promising three days after the PNM won the general elections, 23-18.
“When we return we will give them thunder as they create bacchanal after bacchanal,” UNC deputy political leader, Dr Suruj Rambachan, vowed as he addressed party loyalists in Couva South office on Wednesday night.
He said the blunder in appointing Edmund Dillon as National Security Minister, and Faris Al-Rawi as Attorney General, before Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was the first bacchanal.
Persad-Bissessar, in a fighting mood, also addressed a lively crowd of UNC supporters, winning and losing candidates and her former ministers at the party’s Couva South constituency hall.
“We have a very strong bench,” she said, referring to the 18 seats won by the UNC.
“We will monitor everything they do and keep them on their toes. We will not sleep, falter or stumble.
“I am giving you the commitment I will never, ever give up,” Persad-Bissessar said to cheers and repeated shouts of “I love you Kamla Persad-Bissessar” from supporters.
UNC deputy political leader Dr Roodal Moonilal also threatened war.
He said when the “18 warriors” go to Parliament they will fight on behalf of the majority who elected them.
Moonilal said the PNM Government was a minority one since they did not represent the majority of citizens.
He told party supporters not to throw away their jerseys and asked them to continue to write letters and do whatever they could to highlight any misdeeds of the new Government.
Persad-Bissessar urged supporters not to despair over the party’s loss in the general election.
“Do not despair, lose faith or heart. We’ve been here before. We’ve been down before but we always rise again.”
She spoke about the task ahead for the UNC.
“What is the task ahead now?” she asked.
Before she could continue, a supporter shouted: “Beat them bad!”
Continuing, the Opposition Leader-elect said: “Regroup, rebuild, reposition, rebrand and return to government.”
Another supporter added: “And attack!”
One of the PNM’s campaign slogans was Restore, Rebuild, Represent.