The Congress of the People has engaged the assistance of Canadian Ray Larson to help bolster the party's grassroot support in a bid to build the party base. Larson, is a political consultant who is also party secretary of the Liberal Party of Canada, spoke at a media conference at the party's Flagship House, St Clair, said grassroot enagagement helps political parties to victory at the polls."I am hoping to help the COP re-engage with citizens across Trinidad and Tobago," Larson said.
Larson said the basis of the engagement is by talking directly to voters "on the ground, at their homes, in the street.""When the COP forms the Government again, it is ensure that they are responding to the needs of the people," he said.Even with social technology and easier methodologies to engage voters, Larson believes that only through the effort of walking and talking with voters will the COP be victorious. But even after having said that, Larson denied this was an initiative geared toward helping COP in the 2015 general election.
"It is not about the next election and it should not be about winning the next election. Really it is about ultimately building for the long term," he said.Party leader Prakash Ramadhar also spoke with the media and said the COP will succeed "against the odds" because it has delvered on its manifesto promises. Coming out of this initiative the party will launch its Grand Consensus 2, which will encompass the knowledge gained on the ground and form the basis for its 2015 manifesto.
Ramadhar said the People's Partnership was able to deliver on almost all its manifesto promises."I am pleased to announce that of the 280 odd promises, only 30 odd are outstanding. I am extremely glad we have lived up to that," he said.