"Others Talk, We Deliver" is the mantra of the upcoming local election says Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.The PM was speaking to some of the people selected to represent the party in the upcoming local government election around 10 pm on Friday at the Rienzi Complex, Couva.Persad-Bissessar said opposition parties are trying their best to bombard the population with propaganda that the Government did not do anything for the people of T&T during the past three years.
She said the PP Government did more than the PNM during its tenure from 2001-2010, while the ILP was only concerned with generating popularity on a platform of lies rather than saying what is its plans.Citing a recent example of lies emanating out of the mouth of Jack Warner, the ILP leader, she said at no time did she speak with talk show host Ian Alleyne over the phone as previously claimed by Warner. Persad-Bissessar said she was abroad when the alleged incident had taken place.
"I was out of the country. I want to know when did he give me that phone. This is where the green party continues with is campaigns of lies, half truths and innuendos. Today I say, believe nothing coming out of that green platform."She said expect more lies from the ILP and its leader."Every time this platform speaks...lies, more lies and more lies. Their job on that platform is not to form the government, not to win seats but to bring down your government."
Persad-Bissessar said the ILP leader was hardly coming to the Parliament to represent the people of Chaguanas West who elected him into power.The PM also said the PNM complains about the PP's focus on the development of rural communities. She said if it was left to the PNM, all rural communities would be neglected. "They would not build the highway to Point Fortin."
Persad-Bissessar went on to list the countless achievements of the PP Government in infrastructure, education, health and other areas.She said the UNC will be contesting eight regional bodies (Siparia, Penal/Debe, Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Sangre Grande, Chaguanas, San Juan/Laventille).The COP will field candidates jointly with the UNC in five corporations (Diego Martin, Arima, San Fernando, Tunapuna and Port-of-Spain ) and the NJAC will fight jointly with the UNC for seats in Point Fortin.
She advised those selected to hit the ground immediately after hearing their names. She said candidates have until noon tomorrow to file their nomination papers or the party will send a replacement.Persad-Bissessar said she did not want the party to pay for the tardiness of candidates who may miss the boat. She said the UNC will assist candidates by way of T-shirts and election paraphernalia.
Ameen withdraws nomination
Meanwhile, Khadijah Ameen, the chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation withdrew her nomination.Sources close to Ameen said as chairman of the UNC she did not want to fight the St Augustine South/Piarco St Helena seat in the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation on a COP ticket.The seat will be contested by Ishwar Mootoo. Ameen said she had no comment on withdrawing her nomination.
"I am committed to seeing the partnership work. I would be managing Mr Mootoo's campaign and working with him to ensure the partnership gets the seat."