Senior Reporter
dareece.polo@guardian.co.tt
From the upscale gated communities of the hills to the middle-class and lower-class structures of the valleys, St Joseph, the former capital of T&T, is distinct in its make-up of residents in comparison to the other 40 constituencies across the country.
While Guardian Media could not reach residents in the affluent areas, some in the lower to middle-class areas were upbeat after National Transformation Alliance (NTA) leader Gary Griffith declared his intention to run for MP in the next general election.
The People’s National Movement’s Terrence Deyalsingh is the incumbent.
Among them was Adrian Williams, who told Guardian Media yesterday he believes Griffith’s tenure as commissioner of police should serve as a yardstick for his performance.
“He showed integrity. He showed that he’s honest. When it comes to crime, he’s a no-nonsense man, so it could be a good thing,” Williams said.
Paul Chanicka, who noted he moved out of St Joseph five years ago, said he was born and raised in the constituency. He declared that he would cast his vote for Griffith.
“I will go for Gary because he’s maybe one of the more honest politicians we have right now. You can’t consider Rowley or Kamla. No way in hell I voting for them or their party.”
Resident Noel Harry detailed issues the community continues to face, including a lack of infrastructural repairs, unemployment, drainage works, and other challenges. He believes Griffith could help.
“You see the kind of work he do in the police force, yuh know he don’t play. He will come to help the people, and he will give we a better response ... The PNM? Promises ... problems!”
However, Heidi Crosby was sceptical that he would make an impact.
“Is he really going to do anything for us? Has any politician done anything for us?”
Other concerns flagged were crime, poor roads, a need for more streetlights, and a call for the installation of CCTV cameras.
Contacted yesterday on Griffith's move to contest the seat, UNC deputy political leader David Lee said the NTA was an independent party. He said the NTA’s alliance with the UNC in local government elections may or may not be repeated.
“Who can say down the road that there is some ... only the Lord knows what will happen down the road, so I will not rule out anything.”
The UNC’s deadline for filing nominations for all 41 constituencies will end on April 11. The general election is constitutionally due next year.
On Monday, MP Terrence Deyalsingh, who has held the seat for close to a decade, said he was unfazed by the “shenanigans” of both Griffith and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Analysts speak
Prof Hamid Ghany labelling Griffith’s decision “an astute political move,” said, “It’s not to say he went into a seat that the UNC currently holds and declared his candidacy. He went into a seat that they do not currently hold, so there’s no stepping on toes or mashing of corns, as the case might be, so the discussions will continue. But he’s signalling that he’s serious that he’s intending to contest, and he’s served notice that he’s doing so.”
But political scientist Dr Indira Rampersad disagrees with this, saying the announcement was premature.
“If there’s an accommodation, he’s forcing the UNC’s hand to have him fight that seat on an NTA ticket so that the UNC doesn’t contest. On the other hand, if there’s no accommodation, this move that he’s done could anger the UNC and its leader. In that he’s preempting any call for an accommodation without proper discussions by unilaterally declaring himself the candidate for the seat.”