Outgoing Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes-Alleyne says she is still a United National Congress (UNC) member and has not decided if to continue her affiliation with the party.
“I actually don’t know if I survived the purge,” she said during an interview on CNC3’s election programme Agenda 41.
She made it clear she is not part of the UNC’s campaign this election.
“I am not part of this campaign I am not part of the campaign trail at all.”
Haynes-Alleyne, who made her maiden contribution in the Senate in 2017 and became an MP in 2020, plans to return to her career in public policy now that she’s out of politics but said it is not the last time T&T will hear from her.
“My academics were in political science ... you will find me commenting, not just on education - yes I was the shadow for education - but on all matters of public policy and politics overall that will be affecting Trinidad and Tobago moving forward,” she said.
Haynes-Alleyne, labelled as one of five UNC dissidents who challenged Kamala Persad-Bissessar’s leadership, plans to vote on election day.
“I am indeed a citizen with an interest looking on and I will cast my vote on April 28,” she said.
On the programme, Haynes-Alleyne was joined by Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) leader Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus in a discussion about the education manifesto promises from the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the UNC.
Both parties touched on technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
However, Haynes-Alleyne said the current administration’s thrust to expand (TVET), especially after COVID-19, was hampered because there were not sufficiently trained, accredited instructors.
Tsoiafatt Angus, who shared a similar opinion, wondered whether programmes such as On-the-Job Training (OJT) allow students to master the TVET course of their choice. She said the collapsed economy and increase in crime are directly tied to an education system that is not equipping young people for the real world and 60 per cent of the labour force was unable to attain four O’Level passes.
Haynes-Alleyne said during her time in opposition, she raised several issues in the education sector and offered suggestions to address them.