United National Congress (UNC) candidate Khadijah Ameen has called on Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to stop using race as a weapon in his party's campaign for the Chaguanas West by-election.She made the comment during a function hosted by National Commission for Self Help Ltd at the Devi Mandir in Chaguanas on Tuesday.Describing herself as being mixed, she said there was no room for race talks on the campaign trail.
"I believe I am the quintessential Trinidadian woman," she said."I have heritage that I am very proud of and no politician should target a person based on race. So trying to imply that my campaign has some sort of racial overtones or undertones–Mr Rowley should focus on the issues and not on anybody's race."Ameen admitted to being surprised when told about Rowley's statement, during the PNM's Monday walkabout in the Chaguanas West constituency, that her campaign was using "racial overtones."
She said she would not endorse that type of campaigning, as she herself was not of one race.When asked about the campaign so far, Ameen said she only saw the people she wanted to serve, but was disturbed by the mudslinging."What I am horrified by is the fact that more and more as we walk, people who are campaigning with me are being targeted by other people...they are being intimidated by other people," she said.
She said she would not get involved in mudslinging or "any kind of bacchanal.""I also notice there is a concentrated effort to attack my character," she said."There is an effort to get personal and to personalise these attacks. What is more relevant–the people of this constituency or your own political gain?"Ameen vehemently rejected attacks from a particular politician, whom she did not identify by name.
"And it is abhorrent to see a man who is old enough to be my grandfather attacking me in the worst way, personally," she said."But you know what, my focus will be on the people and I will not lose that focus."Her reference, however, seemed to point to her former colleague Jack Warner, who is running against her for the seat. Warner has promised to expose Ameen during a meeting tomorrow night.
Ameen said her campaign was gaining momentum and she felt confident."When I walk and I meet people, that is where I measure. I really do not focus on the meetings and what happens in the media. My focus is on the people on the ground," she said."As I walk, I don't just ask people for support. I have been gathering their concerns and their complaints."