Oilfields Workers' Trade Union leader Ancel Roget told participants of yesterday's protest march not to rule out a closing down of the country in T&T's interest if necessary. He also issued a warning about Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Jack Warner.
"We're not prepared to rest until they leave!" he said. "We've finally burst the Kamla-mania bubble...She's no blasted goddess or queen-she ent royal,"?Roget declared at the end of the large demonstration. He was speaking at a rally on the Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain, after the protest march against the?People's Partnership Government.
Their specific targets were Ramlogan and Warner. But marchers were unanimous that the entire Government must go. PNM labour officer Jennifer Baptiste-Primus said yesterday's march was the second step "in the journey to replace this incompetent government," of which the first step was the PNM's September 18 march.
The Opposition PNM, trade unions and civil society groups brought out members-many in PNM?red-bearing placards and chanting slogans against the Government. They assembled at Woodford Square and marched downtown, past the Eric Williams Financial Complex, uptown and back to the promenade.
Speakers at the end of the march gave varying figures for the size of the crowd. Mirror columnist and Jericho Project head Phillip Alexander said it was 50,000. DNA?leader Kirk Meighoo said 40,000 to 50,000. Movement for Social Justice chairman Vincent Cabrera said 40,000, as did Tobago House of Assembly chief secretary Orville London. Former UNC attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said 30,000. MSJ leader David Abdulah said "tens of thousands."
The T&T Guardian?checked with police at 6 pm yesterday and they reported the crowd as 21,000 at its peak, while crossing downtown, and 7,000 at the end of the event during the rally. They said figures were compiled by air units flying above the march.
Roget, at the rally, said the recent Parliament debate on Section 34, gave the PM?the final opportunity to "redeem herself" on the issue, but he criticised her behaviour during the debate. He said the groups had many more plans ahead, and warned participants to be prepared to make sacrifices and to be ready to assemble. Roget said the PM?had squandered a golden opportunity which she would never again see in T&T's history.
Rowley said he stood behind the OWTU on the AG's removal. "We not taking dat if he stays!?This is our country,"?he said. Rowley said governments and unions had had differences of opinion on policies before, but not as in the PP's case.
"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown...This is the end of the beginning,"?he added.
MSJ?leader Abdulah said while unions had had differences with the PNM before, he had no difficulty standing next to Rowley in T&T's interest. Maharaj warned Government:?"Kamla, you are on your way out!??Jack, you are on your way out! You seduce people, you rode their backs.You got into power and throw out the manifesto. It's no longer a Partnership Government, it's only your partners who benefiting.
"Hit the road Jack. Hit the road, AG. Hit the road, Cabinet." Maharaj claimed the PP?leadership lied on the Section 34 issue and the PM could not fire the AG, since she would also have to fire herself. He said he was one of three people who had warned T&T about Persad-Bissessar's leadership. The others were former UNC?leader Basdeo Panday and ex-PNM?leader Patrick Manning.
He alleged a minister had tried to buy a property for $38 million cash and another had acquired 13 properties since getting into office. Maharaj said upcoming THA elections must see an referendum on the Section 34 issue. He said several Indo-Trinidadians had appealed to him not to join the march, since he would be seen to be supporting the PNM.
DNA?leader Kirk Meighoo said the Government was "frightened of us" and that the Prime Minister had listened to the marchers of September 18 and subsequently fired Justice Minister Herbert Volney and repealed Section 34. "She'll listen,"?Meighoo added. He said the Parliament and presidency had failed T&T on Section 34.
Many of the groups yesterday had different agendas, he said, but they had come together to demand "decent government." The Prime Minister was not stupid and would not call elections until term's end, he said. "She'll wait it out...We have to be prepared and ensure she plays by the rules meantime,"?Meighoo said.
THA leader London said while Trinidad said the PP must go, Tobago "must say the PP?shouldn't come-that has to be our slogan." Highway Re-route Movement leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh didn't speak, but another member, Elizabeth Rambharose, addressed the crowd.
Richard Ragoonanan of the Section 34 group said, "Today the people have spoken. The message is clear:?The AG and Jack must go."