Deputy Political Leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal is accusing the PNM of employing cheap election gimmicks to sway the electorate in the run-up to the general election. Responding to questions following a home improvement grant cheque distribution ceremony at the La Joya Complex, St Joseph, yesterday, Moonilal urged members of the public to beware of the malicious rumours being spread by the PNM candidates in a bid to secure votes.
During the UNC's Monday Night Forum in Guaico, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar hinted that if the PNM was to assume office, recent recipients of government housing might be forced to surrender their properties.
Claiming that Opposition candidates were now "questioning our processes by way of housing distribution," Moonilal said they were concerned that if the PNM was to return to office, many of the initiatives implemented throughout various ministries would be reversed.
He warned: "It has led us to the view that in the event, God forbid, they are returned to office they will stop the distribution of houses which is 100 a week but may review the existing persons who have received keys, with a view to seeing if they can reverse that process and they will ask those persons to surrender their keys and units that they have received."
Admitting it was something they were very concerned about, Moonilal added: "They have been known to be malicious and vindictive and it is something that we are looking at." Moonilal promised to raise the issue and challenge the PNM to comment on it. Questioned about the legal ramifications of such a move, Moonilal said he believed it was an election gimmick being employed to turn voters away from the People's Partnership.
However, he assured that the Government would continue the distribution of houses each week as he explained that rigorous processes, including detailed legal and commercial investigations, were done before anyone was awarded a home.
Urging the PNM to refrain from politicising the initiative, Moonilal called on Opposition members "not to exercise malice or hate against anyone who have been a recipient of a housing unit," as Government was moving to treat with applications from all kinds of persons, “some of whom had been waiting for years.”
Pressed to comment on claims by the PNM’s candidate for Talparo/La Horquetta Maxie Cuffie that a woman claiming to be the prime minister was contacting people, via phone, and bullying them to vote for the current administration, Moonilal in turn accused him of "becoming extremely desperate."
Stating that Cuffie's political campaign was lagging, Moonilal clarified: "There is no such campaign by the PM or anyone from the Partnership to intimidate voters. The PM is involved with other ministers as well, in telephone calls to constituents and to voters which are a normal part of political campaigning across the word, not just in T&T."
He added: "I think that has really hit and stung the Opposition so they are desperate but they should really look at campaigning themselves and putting their case to the people." Moonilal, who represents Oropouche East, said he had submitted his nomination papers for an opportunity to represent that area again.
Awaiting a response from the UNC screening committee, Moonilal expressed optimism and confidence he would be elected on the basis of the good work he has done in his area.
Home improvement grant
Meanwhile, the minister yesterday presented 75 people with the first of a two-part home-improvement grant cheque valued at $7,500 each. The lucky recipients were randomly selected from the ministry's database and represented communities across north Trinidad.
Referring to the various housing initiatives which had been introduced during the last five years, Moonilal said that was in keeping with Government's thrust to maintain the housing stock and reduce the demand for new houses. He promised the non-refundable grants, totaling $562,500, would go a long way to assist persons with home repairs and improvement projects.
Moonilal promised the recipients they would receive the second tranche of money after they completed the first schedule of the agreement. Boasting his ministry had managed to deliver such grants to over 7,700 families since 2010, at an estimated cost of $112 million, Moonilal said it was mainly low-income families that had benefited.