Trinidad & Tobago: Elections loom as PM Persad-Bissessar and opposition’s Rowley launch campaigns

The ruling coalition People’s Partnership Government and the main Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) Sunday launched their unofficial campaign for the next general election that must be held no later than September 17.

Both political groups staged impressive rallies in the capital on Sunday with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar indicating that her four-party coalition would retain power.

Her main challenger, Keith Rowley told supporters that the party would soon be writing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat asking that it send observers to monitor the general election.

Addressing her supporters, Persad-Bissessar said that the coalition, comprising the United National Congress (UNC), the Tobago Organization of the People (TOP), the National Joint Action Movement (NJAC) and the Congress of the People (COP), had done enough to deserve another 5 year term.

She said that her administration had kept 90 percent of its promises in its 2010 manifesto and under her leadership the country will benefit from more projects over the next 5 years.

“More than any other Government, my Government has delivered, in these past 5 years and so today I assure you, we are ready for victory, the time has come, the time is here, we are ready to do battle to keep our great country on the path of success and progress and equality,” said Persad-Bissessar.

“Take heed, take note, take warning, do not be deterred by all the false, malicious and negative reports coming from the other side.

“They are desperate because they cannot contest our achievements and so you will see in the coming months even more than what has happened in the past 5 years, believe it or not, many more scurrilous lies and attacks they will hurl at Partnership members and myself as your prime minister. I say to you today, do not fear them, do not let them break your spirit and your drive,” she added.

Rowley, who led the chorus “we ready” for the election, said the Government, during its 5 year term, spent more than TT$400 billion (US$64 billion) in successive budgets without anything major to show for it.

He said that the economy has not grown under the coalition Government adding that the Government would seek parliamentary approval to spend more money before the parliament is dissolved on June 17. He said once parliament dissolves and until Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar names the election date, “they (government) will have a free sheet from now until September to do what they want” reiterating his call for the prime minister to name the election date “to protect the interest of the people”.

He said he wanted the CARICOM observers here to observe the elections, telling supporters “the one that they have not been known to tamper with is the EBC (Elections Boundaries Commission). That is the only national institution this Government has not been able to tamper with as far as is known to us.”

The latest opinion poll published here on Sunday, noted that the election was too close to call. -(CMC)