The consensus among political scientists and MPs about Jack Warner's move into the PNM stronghold of east Port-of-Spain is that he will make no political inroads there. Warner, National Security Minister, launched his ministry's People and Projects for Progress at the St Paul Street Community Centre last Wednesday.
In this latest job-creation enterprise, residents will be employed to repaint buildings and construct day-care and homework centres. The Defence Force Battalion, and not gang leaders, will be in charge of the recruitment exercise in the high-crime area, Warner said. He did not disclose the cost of the project.
Political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath felt Warner's main aim was to encroach on the PNM safe seat. "His agenda is to make political inroads. And I don't think that will happen," Ragoonath said. "People in east Port-of-Spain, though they need jobs, can't be easily bought. "We must always remember they traditionally supported the PNM. Giving the people jobs and projects may not change them. They may simply accept what can be given."
Noting that it would cost the State a lot of money, Ragoonath said such projects usually overlap.
There is the third phase of Colour Me Orange in the area, into which $300 million was injected, and the Hoop of Life basketball competition, costing the Government $36 million for three years. Ragoonath said Warner may very well have a double agenda, the other part being to reduce crime in east Port-of-Spain and the creation of jobs could cause a reduction.
Dr Indira Rampersad said it would be very difficult to penetrate a PNM stronghold like east Port-of-Spain. She recalled the 1986 general election, when the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) won 33 of the 36 seats in Parliament at the time. "Laventille was one of the three seats that did not vote for the NAR," Rampersad noted.
Port-of-Spain North/St Ann's East MP Patricia McIntosh did not think her constituents will be "so easily fooled." Referring to the Hoop of Life competition, she said, "$250 a week for six months? I don't know if that is sustainable employment. "The Government, especially Warner, likes to throw money like corn to feed chickens. I don't think the people will be fooled as before."
McIntosh threw out a challenge to Warner, and anyone else, to come into the area and do whatever they want. Laventille West MP Nileung Hypolite said all governments were responsible for creating projects and jobs in every area. PNM MP Colm Imbert said Warner will not make inroads into the area. "I think the residents have sized him up and understand him-and will milk him for whatever they can get.