A crowd of University of the West Indies (UWI) students were left upset and disappointed after representatives of the People's National Movement (PNM) and, initially, the United National Congress (UNC), blanked a "political talks" session organised by their Political Science Society at the St Augustine Campus yesterday.
Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie "turned up late and left early," a student complained, and they did not get to ask him enough questions. Tewarie said he had to wait until Cabinet meeting was over. He gave a detailed breakdown of the PP's manifesto, answered a couple of questions and then asked to leave.
"I have some very important things to do, like go in my constituency and ask people to vote for me," he said.
UWI guild vice-president, Nikolai Edwards, son of slain prison escapee Hassan Atwell, expressed anger as he addressed the group of students gathered in the auditorium of the Learning Resource Centre.
"This is quite appalling. They are sending a message to the youths. Election is Monday," Edwards said, after they had waited more than half-an-hour after the scheduled start for PNM and UNC representatives to arrive.
Political leaders of several of the smaller parties, including Gary Griffith of the Alliance of Independents, Nalini Dial of the National Coalition for Transformation, David Abdulah of the Movement for Social Justice, and independent candidate, Phillip Alexander, had arrived and were seated at the head table.
They were hoping to engage Faris Al-Rawi, public relations officer of the PNM, and Dr Bhoe Tewarie of the People's Partnership Government on their manifestos, Edwards said.
He said the two parties rushed to have discussions with business and other groups but were not interested in the nation's young people.
Political scientist, Dr Bishnu Ragoonath, head of UWI's political science department, addressing the students, echoed Edwards.
"I agree with the students that the youths are not being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
"You would expect that with 18,000 youths at UWI they would be rushing down here to get their votes," he said.