Acting chairman of the ruling United National Congress, councillor Khadija Ameen, is confident that Jack Warner will remain within the fold of the UNC even though he has resigned from two top positions in the Government and the UNC leadership.
On Warner's next move and the impact on the PP's agenda, Ameen continuously said, "We will wait and see."The chairman of the Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation, who was interviewed Thursday afternoon before Warner announced his decision to resign as the MP for Chaguanas West, is calling for Tunapuna to be made a borough.
Q: Madame Chairman, many PP supporters are dismayed over the resignation of Mr Warner as Minister of National Security and chairman of the United National Congress, is this the beginning of the end of the PP coalition?
A: (In her Tunapuna office of the TPRC immediately after having lunch at her desk, Thursday afternoon) In the first place, the Partnership is as strong as its partners and we are now more as partners rather than individuals. The leaders of the parties in the PP meet on a regular basis so in terms of this being a blow to the PP, it will continue in terms of our relations.
Jack Warner has been a towering figure in the UNC and the PP regime. Did it come to you as a surprise when he announced his resignation?
I think the explanation that the Prime Minister gave at her meeting in Penal on Monday evening really hit the nail on the head. But my concern as a young person growing up in the party is that there may be people in the UNC who might doubt my commitment to the party. But if they check my track record in the UNC they would see that I am no newcomer and have been dedicated to the ideals of the UNC.
I joined the UNC soon after I left secondary school as a youth officer and made my way up the ladder so far, based on my ability to work hard, competence and my ability to bridge gaps wherever they existed.
What do you make of the statements made by the Prime Minister that Warner was not forced to resign while he said that it was precipitated by her statement to reporters when she arrived from her US trip Sunday evening?
Oh, remember Mr Warner said he left home with his resignation in his pocket and was prepared to tender it...
Now that you are acting chairman of the UNC, do you think you could adequately fill that void left by Mr Warner's resignation?
(A broad smile) Well, we will see...we will see...every person is different, you know. We have our different styles so as I said, we just have to wait and see.
You are young in every sense of the word, in the politics and your age. Do you really believe that you can control those fellows in the executive when the going gets hot?
Well, I have had good relations with the executive of the party including those in the Congress of the People. I have been fortunate to work alongside people in both parties and I see many of them as my mentors or as a daughter or as a sister figure.
Did you think that you would have been catapulted into this position at this time of political turmoil in the country?
I also believe in teamwork so regardless of who is the chairman, the party is as strong as the executive and there are a lot of things Mr Warner would have started, like discussing with the partners the upcoming local government elections which the Prime Minister said would be held on time later this year.
Talking about strengthening the party, how would the absence of Mr Warner impact on the party's hopes of retaining its hold on the local government bodies?
(All ten fingers resting on her desk piano-playing style) There are people out there who strongly support Mr Warner, in and out of the party, and the fact he remains a member of the UNC is indicative of his intention to continue working hard for the party.
The work this administration has been doing for local government has been fantastic and for anyone to say otherwise is to be untruthful. Even areas under the control of the People's National Movement must be pleased with the even-handed way the PP has been servicing their constituencies, too.And people have to vote based on our performance.
As acting chairman what do you see as some of the challenges you would be facing?
The challenge is not for the chairman, it is for the party, for the national executive and there are several things that we face; we have to continue strengthening the organs of the party, continue giving the members good representation at a party level.
Mr Warner is due to address his constituents this (Thursday) evening. Would you be surprised if he makes some dramatic announcement such as becoming an independent member of Parliament or anything of the sort?
(Lowering her voice) I doubt that would happen. I seriously doubt that will happen.
Why do you say that?
(Voice goes even lower and closed eyes)
I doubt that will happen, but we will wait to see. We will wait to see.
You have been speaking about the positive developments in the party and at your corporation in particular, what about the negatives? For instance, the bacchanal involving fraudulent cheques being issued by some of your employees here?
OK. Not too long after we started this term there was a report that a retired employee's $80,000 cheque got caught up in some kind of dishonest act.The police were called in and someemployees were charged by the police and the matter is still before the courts so I cannot comment on that matter for obvious reasons.
Are these people suspended or are they on the job at this time?
Yes. And this is one of the challenges that local government bodies are faced with, a lot of indiscipline among workers, not all of them mind you.You just cannot discipline erring workers just like that, the procedure is simply too cumbersome and because of this the disciplinary machinery takes too long to kick into gear. A thing like unpunctuality is not being observed fully because of this system which is being taken advantage of by some workers.
To get them transferred or suspended is like pulling teeth.
What about that silver box as I like to call it, smack in the heart of the Curepe hub that has been parked up there without being used for so long?
The challenge is while that toilet may have cost a million dollars in 2010, there was a proposal for maintenance cost at $42,000 a month plus vat. Of course, the corporation cannot fund that as it would be irresponsible for the corporation to open that facility to the public and we cannot operate it properly.
Was that a TPRC-sponsored project?
I understand it was done through the Ministry of Local Government under the past PNM administration.
They were not aware they would have had to foot that maintenance bill?
That is a good question for you to ask Patricia Mejias (former chairman of the TPRC under whose watch the project was undertaken).
So what is the latest on this eyesore, is it going to be left there in perpetuity? And on my way here today I observed vendors were hanging clothes on it...
Well, we want to sell it and of course there is a procedure, government red tape–and that space could have been better utilised...it is not the best place for a toilet. Would you believe that the door opens to the general public after someone uses that facility?There is an automatic door which opens directly on the sidewalk.
Can the TPRC put it up for sale?
I told you about the Government's red tape in dealing with public property especially when they are to be sold, so that is something that is being pursued by our CEO.I wouldn't want to have that toilet malfunctioning there and the corporation cannot clean it... Can you imagine the environmental hazard which would be posed to thousands of commuters in the event of that happening?Which brings me to a point I would like to touch on at this time.
Which is?
Okay. I would like to see this corporation become a borough and strongly feel this is long overdue. We have a population close to 250,000 people, the largest local government body in terms of people.Making Tunapuna a borough allows the developmental focus to be different. We have special needs and we have been dealing with them, but it is high time for Tunapuna to be made into a borough.
Councillor Ameen, you honestly believe that the Jack Warner fallout would not negatively impact on the PP's forward agenda?
Clevon, we just have to wait and see. Some things in politics you just have to wait and see... it is not a cut and dry thing. I look forward to see how he intends to continue working with the party, what role he plans to play...
Finally, people have been calling on him to form a new political party. Does that make political sense to you?
(A slight pause) I have not heard that call. I have not heard that call. It depends on his agenda, but we have to wait and see.