MSJ to boycott PP rally on May 24

The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ)—one of the five political parties that came together to form the People’s Partnership—has decided to blank the coalition’s second anniversary celebration on Thursday. Party insiders told Sunday Guardian that the MSJ has opted to stay out of the celebration based on the government’s failure to deal with important issues affecting T&T.

“It’s official—the MSJ would not be attending the rally,” the party insider revealed. Sunday Guardian learnt that the party’s executive and activists are expected to meet in an emergency meeting today to finalise its announcement to be made to the nation on Monday.

When contacted yesterday the party’s political leader David Abdulah did not deny or confirm that the MSJ had taken a decision to distance themselves from the rally. “We would make a statement at the appropriate time,” Abdulah said. Asked if he had reneged on his commitment to speak at the rally scheduled to take place at Mid Centre Mall, Chaguanas, a plain-speaking Abdulah said: “I never gave any commitment to speak at the rally. I have no idea what Mr Suruj Rambachan is speaking about. I never told anyone I was going to speak at that rally.”   

The MSJ leader has criticised the celebration saying the timing was inappropriate. The party hinted at its absence from the rally last week, after it took issue over a full-page advertisement highlighting the five leaders of the coalition that were expected to address supporters.

Saying that he gave no confirmation to attend the event, Abdulah called for his image to be removed from the advertisement. The party’s public relations officer Gregory Fernandez yesterday said that messages have been forwarded to Ross Advertising requesting the removal of Abdulah’s image from the advertisement.  

“Mr Abdulah had conveyed at the last meeting of the leaders that he was not in favour of the rally. His message was very clear. I do not know who or where Mr Rambachan got his information from but it certainly was not from the MSJ,” Fernandez said.

Contacted yesterday Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union leader Ancel Roget only said, “We are very confident that the party (MSJ) would do the right thing and when that is done we would make our statement at the right moment.” Roget had given the MSJ up until May 24 to pull out of the PP on the basis that citizens were being neglected.

Rowley: PP one-term govt

“They are all a bunch of jokers. The only thing about it is they don’t know what shame is.” That’s how People’s National Movement (PNM) political leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday responded to political leader of the Movement for Social Justice David Abdulah’s stance not to participate in the second anniversary celebration of the People’s Partnership (PP) government on Thursday.

Rowley said if “they had shame they would not portray themselves as an embarrassment to the people of T&T. They are all mouthing one mantra that coalition is here to stay.” He said while coalitions have worked around the world, in T&T it is “kangatang and ra-ra.”

At the end of the term, Rowley said, “the people of Trinidad and Tobago will fire you and elect a government that gives us good order and good governance...” Rowley said the PNM was preparing for government.—Shaliza Hassanali