Former UNC Minister Vasant Bharath has lauded UNC leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar's leadership after she reached out to him putting differences aside - and he's slammed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s Government.
Bharath did so when he spoke at Friday's UNC Budget consultation in Tunapuna. It was his first appearance on a UNC platform in some time.
Onetime UNC St Augustine MP, Bharath unsuccessfully contested the leadership against Persad-Bissessar in 2015 and 2020 and subsequently was distanced from the party. Recently he's been critical of both UNC and PNM. Up to last month Bharath spoke of considering launching a political party.
At Friday's Budget consultation, Bharath, sitting at the head table was introduced by UNC’s Hamlyn Jailal as “our former Minister of Food Production and Trade.”
Detailing challenges and the collapse in many sectors, Bharath said T&T has a very serious challenge on its hands, “And there’s no hope the current PNM regime can overcome it, they’ve proven over and over in the last nine years that they’re corrupt, vindictive, discriminatory. God forbid they get another term- they’re going to be far worse. So we have to band together, go out there and be evangelists for T&T."
He said he knew many were wondering how he’d arrived on a UNC platform that night. He said Persad-Bissessar had been very magnanimous in reaching out to him.
“She's been able to put whatever differences we have with each other aside to the benefit of the good of the citizens and that’s what true leadership is – when you put country and people of the country before any personal differences,” Bharath added, "I thank her and applaud her for that.”
Bharath issued a statement on the development immediately after the meeting.
He stated, "I'm happy to be working closely with the leadership of the UNC to strengthen our party and serve the best interests of our nation. Over the last few months, I've reflected deeply on the challenges we face as a country and the urgent need for effective leadership.
"The UNC has a proud history of delivering positive results for T&T. Under Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s leadership, whose approach has always been to place people at the heart of our policies, ensuring every citizen has the opportunity to thrive, we implemented vital projects and policies that fostered safer communities and a more prosperous economy."
Citing strides he said the UNC made, Bharath added, "My past differences with the UNC leadership pale in comparison to the pervasive issues that plague the country under the incompetent and corrupt hands of the PNM which has been in government more than any other party, and which has consistently fallen short of the expectations of our people, achieving less in their over 40 years in government than the UNC administrations of 1995-2001 and 2010-2015.
"The PNM lacks accountability and fiscal management, has allowed crime to reach record highs, and has failed to maintain our basic infrastructure. Mrs Persad-Bissessar has demonstrated the ultimate leadership by setting aside personal differences for the sake of our country and has asked me to join hands to rebuild our nation together."
"I'm determined to work collaboratively to rebuild trust, develop a robust strategy, and get the party ready to challenge the PNM. We must restore faith in our institutions, create economic growth, and ensure a safe and secure environment for all. It's imperative we present a united front, offering hope, and tangible solutions to the challenges we face," he said.
Bharath slams PM on crime
Addressing the consultation, Bharath said despite over $500 billion spent on T&T’s Budgets in the last nine years, quality of life hasn’t improved. He detailed “a tale of two deaths” – on security and the economy.
He said many don’t have water, security, shelter or other basics, "We’re at a stage of almost helplessness, numb to the atrocities when we see five and six people killed in a day or the headlines … All we hope is that it doesn’t happen to us.
"We have a police service where the TTPS head missed her calling - she should have been a pastor….no clue what to do to resolve T&T’s problems on crime. Our detection rate is 15 per cent, conviction rate is three per cent."
He said the number of murders since 2015 is 4,402, as of Thursday there were 341 murders for 2024 and 60 for July excluding extortions, rapes and robberies.
Bharath said he read where Rowley said people were not reporting crime, “This man had the audacity and gall to say that ?!! Why would anybody report crime? When you go to the station, you know who is police and who is bandit?,” Bharath asked, adding statistics showed even those in jail are “calling shots.”
“So why are you reporting anything. You stupid? Our witness protection programme doesn’t work, how many have been killed? When people see anything they close their window, ducking down.”
Bharath said, “The PNM Government’s solution to what's happening in T&T with crime was to team up 'Coalpot (Keith) Scotland - the man who said go and use coalpot - with (National Security Minister Fitzgerald) Hinds. So if you were frightened before, you have to be more frightened now, the most incompetent minister!”
'The 2025/26 Budget must be a UNC govt budget'
UNC's Vasant Bharath on Friday recommended having all security agencies operate collaboratively and have specialised TTPS units to deal with gangs, cybercrime, human trafficking, guns and ammunition.
He said the Government said they knew where the gangs were, but video blogger Chris Huges had to come from Canada and found gang members but was charged by police.
"It’s because they don’t want to do anything!”
Bharath said T&T was racking up debt and after the total debt the PP government left in 2015 was $77 billion it took nine years for $50 billion to be added. He slammed the Government’s withdrawals from the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund totalling (US)$2.559 billion and noted a $ 9 billion deficit for the current Budget. He criticised Central Bank’s “cock and bull story” on the lack of liquidity in the system after reducing the reserve requirement for banks.
Bharath said debts will challenge future generations, businesses are closing, there is a Forex crisis and one of confidence in T&T, foreign investment is staying away, local business is hampered, capital flight abounds and revenue earned outside is kept there. He said T&T cannot feed itself and after 100 years with the energy sector. “God forbid if a world war arises and ships bringing energy here are diverted – T&T will shut down.”
Bharath called for action to ensure the 2025/26 Budget after the general election is read by a UNC government. Another speaker, former PP minister Kevin Ramnarine said it was good to see Bharath. Audience members also welcomed him.