Sascha Wilson
Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
With less than two weeks before the April 28 General Election, tensions are rising in Moruga/Tableland.
Several banners and posters belonging to the United National Congress (UNC) and People’s National Movement (PNM) candidates have been vandalised and removed throughout the constituency.
However, the UNC’s Michelle Benjamin and the PNM’s Lisa Atwater have distanced themselves from any blame and called for peace.
Benjamin, the incumbent MP for the constituency, said this election was her fourth, and she has always run a clean campaign.
Complaining that several of her wooden-framed banners have been removed and her posters torn down in various areas, she said that on Monday, workers of a contractor, allegedly hired by T&TEC, removed her 20-foot overhead banner which was across the Moruga Road in St Mary’s Village.
“I’m asking persons for peace to reign, for us to run a clean campaign and not to have further acts of vandalism on either side. It is sad what would have occurred. Now, persons from the other side, I think they are vandalising, I’ll have to say, their own election day merchandise or election day paraphernalia, banners, but it’s not my side.”
Speaking with Guardian Media at her campaign office in St Mary’s Village, Benjamin insisted that her campaign messages were based on solutions to issues facing constituents and denied engaging in gutter politics.
She urged her supporters “to stay the course.” Benjamin added, “We have 12 days remaining and the party is on its way to victory, and we are looking for a real solution.”
When Guardian Media caught up with Atwater in Monkey Town, New Grant, during her walkabout, Atwater said she would be taking evidence to the police on who is responsible for vandalising her election paraphernalia.
“We have instructed our people that when you go to put up a flyer do not deface anybody’s. We have video evidence of people moving in vehicles. We can give you the vehicle number. I am not going down that road. We have evidence of people putting painting on my posters.”
Atwater said her campaign was based on hope, integrity and honesty and “at no time” on their (Facebook) page has any negativity been posted. She said that before using T&TEC poles to hang overhead banners, permission must be granted, which they got from T&TEC yesterday.
Guardian Media reached out to T&TEC’s corporate communication department twice on Benjamin’s claims but got no response up to late yesterday.
Patriotic Front candidate Emmanuel Phillip is also contesting the Moruga/Tableland seat.