Senior Political Reporter
It is time for the East-West corridor to take a stand against the People’s National Movement (PNM) and for those constituents to recognise that they don’t deserve the type of treatment being given to them by a party they have remained loyal to over the years, says United National Congress (UNC) frontliner Jack Warner.
“What bothers me is the deception of this PNM Government to promote itself as a black man’s party and the fact the most oppressed communities are within PNM constituencies. If only PNM took care of their own, the murder rate and the crime rate wouldn’t be this high,” Warner said at yesterday’s UNC meeting in St Joseph.
Speakers included UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Senator Anil Roberts, who blazed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Critical of the Government’s “neglect” of T&T, including the breakdown in security and justice systems, Warner said, “Unprecedented death and destruction have stalked T&T. We can no longer afford to be silent or sit back and wait until 2025 to make our move for political change. The time to call for a general election is now! Rowley must go, and with him this oppressive, tyrannical Government.
“Citizens are no longer be safe, especially in this East-West Corridor ... Gunmen have gone astray under this administration. Since Rowley was elected, more than 4,000 people have been murdered, people aren’t safe under him.”
Warner added, “What disturbs me is that the PNM, a black man’s party, seems only intent on putting money in the pockets of the one-percenters ... I challenge any black man today to tell me that he wasn’t happier under Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s government! Every honest black man will say he was better off over 2010-2015!”
Drawing attention to issues in constituencies, Warner said, “Rowley must go because his legacy doesn’t favour the small, hard-working man. For eight years, no revenue stream has been created. The East-West Corridor has to take a stand ... the time has come for the Corridor to recognise that they cannot vote race and religion when it comes to the PNM because when that party gets into power, its only concern, as the Prime Minister says, is to get the rich, richer.
“The East-West Corridor has to take the position to vote in the interest of the nation and the future of our children before we all die, either from poverty or at the hands of criminals under this rogue Government.”
Warner added, “People of St Joseph and others listening, come be a part of this UNC movement for change. We have to save this country. We need your support and your vote to rid T&T of Rowley. Tobago did it—I’m sure we too can. We have to come together to save T&T—either that or all is over.
“When I hear people, as few as they are, saying Kamla must go, I ask myself, ‘She must go where?’ The only place I know that she’s going is back in government to save T&T!”