Senior Political Reporter
The Congress of the People (COP), now in an alliance with the HOPE party, isn’t focusing on links with the United National Congress, National Transformation Alliance or other parties - and the HOPE has confirmed the same.
COP leader Kirt Sinnette made this clear yesterday, while HOPE deputy leader Louis Lee Sing and party chairman Steve Alvarez also signalled the same.
This, after a recent announcement of the 27-year-old COP’s alliance with HOPE, which was launched last year. HOPE, headed by Timothy Hamel-Smith, comprises people formerly from the COP (like Hamel-Smith), the People’s National Movement and other parties.
In a recent statement on the COP/HOPE alliance, both parties said they’re committed to fostering inclusive dialogue and encouraging like-minded entities and people to join their alliance and contribute towards formulating a sustainable national development plan for T&T.
The alliance was described as a unified commitment to T&T’s development and “significant step towards fostering collaboration in the political landscape of T&T and is responsive to the aspirations and concerns of all people”.
The statement said recognising the imperative to address the diverse needs of citizens, both parties have “strategically aligned to work on a transformative initiative geared towards a comprehensible sustainable national development plan.” The initiative is said to “transcend boundaries, prioritising T&T’s greater good, promoting a spirit of co-operation that rises above partisan interests.”
Sinnette said COP has networked for over three years to bring together individuals of like-mind on T&T’s interest. “That’s our focus, not necessarily on linking with other parties,” Sinnette said.
He said he called Hamel-Smith, a former COP frontliner, and both parties’ executives had talks for eight months and reached a consensus, as both hold similar ideals.
On whether there would be talks with the UNC possibly, Sinnette said, “We’re taking our time going forward. I can’t say anything until anything is discussed by our executive, and we take our position to our HOPE partner on who we’ll ‘side’ with.”
He added, “We’re open to discussions with every party that’s focused on bettering T&T. COP has certain principles. We’ll not have negotiations as we did in 2010 (with the UNC-PP). We’ve learned our lesson from that 2010 negotiation. Going into negotiations with any other party would be different.”
However, Sinnette steered clear of commenting on UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s warnings on Monday to small parties.
On possible talks with NTA’s Gary Griffith, with whom COP spoke before, Sinnette said, “He didn’t take up the offer and went with the UNC. If he approaches us again, we’ll have talks with Gary but we must have open terms and need to sign off on these things.”
On whether COP would speak to the PNM, often seen as an opponent, Sinnette added, “We don’t have any opponents in this. We’re going with who has T&T’s best interest at heart and we’d work with any party and like-minded individuals that hold T&T’s best interest. We’ve spoken to NGOs, sugar workers and other groups,”
Hamel-Smith didn’t answer calls yesterday but deputy leader (governance) Lee Sing, when asked about linking with UNC possibly, said, “We’re not looking to have any pre-arranged marriage. The country has to grow up, accept its responsibility and good people have to come forward and offer themselves for service.”
Lee Sing said HOPE is talking to farmers, associations, unions and NGOs as they bring material.
HOPE chairman Steve Alvarez added, “HOPE is focused on building hope. Our arrangement with the COP is for a national development plan - we have to find solutions first.”
On links with other parties, Alvarez said, “Our aim is to ensure HOPE and COP agree on ideas first, so we’ll not be joining other parties simply to get a position in government. We’ll join whoever shares our vision for T&T. We’re getting our (alliance) bearings and the national plan for T&T first.”
“Can’t fault Kamla’s warnings” - Lee Sing
Commenting on UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s warnings on Monday to smaller parties, HOPE deputy leader Louis Lee Sing said, “I cannot fault Kamla’s comments, which are no doubt driven by the words and deeds of her jilted partner of recent vintage - Gary Griffith, who, in my view, speaks loudly and always says the same thing.”
Lee Sing said he felt Griffith was “part of the problem, not the solution.”
He suggested Persad-Bissessar’s statements made it clear she intends to ensure a two-party system.
“But I believe Kamla was also speaking to those UNC members who continue speaking against her leadership and who’d like to see her removed as leader but are mortally afraid to challenge her - lest they be banished from Kamla’s Queendom,” Lee Sing added.
Lee Sing added, "Make no bones about it - Ms Bissessar is in charge of the UNC and she knows it as much as her rivals do. Her words have thrown out an invitation to all small parties to join her in removing the PNM, without saying what is in it for any brave enough to accept her invitation.”
Lee Singh, however, said the future of small parties rests in a platform of unity.
“... Kamla, like a bear, has finally tired from her long hibernation and given the responses she’s getting from her crime forums, is now emboldened to the point that she believes she has a multi-ethnic party ready to take on all comers! Finally, she believes Gary Griffith is darn fast to meddle in her business - and rightfully so.”