UNC supporters outnumber PNMites outside Parliament

While scores of yellow-clad UNC supporters came out to the Parliament yesterday to support Attorney General Anand Ramlogan for yesterday’s debate, a small group of PNM Women’s League members also turned up to rally behind PNM leader Keith Rowley in his motion of censure against Ramlogan.

Supporters of both sides were present around the Parliament for the debate. UNC supporters outnumbered the PNM group almost three to one. Groups of UNC followers gathered on the southern side of the Waterfront complex, near the Breakfast Shed, and behind a blocked-off area nearer the Parliament Building.  Some viewed the proceedings inside the Parliament on a large screen set up on the back of a truck near the Breakfast Shed.

Several female UNC supporters said they had come from the Couva North constituency and had been organised by the MP’s office to attend. “We here to support,” they all said. Support exactly what, they were asked. After looking quizzically around at each other for a minute, one of them said, “We here to support we Government.”

Several UNC MPs, including Stacy Roopnarine, Tim Gopeesingh, Chandresh Sharma and Suruj Rambachan, came out to meet supporters. Before Rambachan reached the UNC group, however, he was braced by a middle-aged orange-clad woman who said, “Why all you doing the people dat?”

While the UNC supporters were outside the Parliament, the group of PNM women, all clad in white, stood inside the lobby of the Parliament until they went upstairs to the Parliament chamber. PNM lady vice-chairman Donna Cox said they could not stand outside the front of the building and went inside because they did not want any confrontation with the UNC supporters.

Apart from Cox, the group, including PNM deputy leader Joan Yuille-Williams, all went into the chamber for Rowley’s address. They left when Moonilal began speaking. By that time most of the UNC supporters outside had left or sought shelter from the afternoon showers. Only some stuck around to watch proceedings on the television screen outside the building.