Political Leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA)Gary Griffith has dispelled rumours he was caught off guard or was upset by Jack Warner’s return to the UNC and to the political platform on Monday night. Messages circulating on social media claimed he was not informed of the decision until he saw the notice on the flyer.
Speaking to Guardian Media at the Centre of Excellence after the meeting, Griffith said his party was all about alliances and it was even in the name.
“The name of the party I lead is the National Transformation Alliance; and that word alliance is what I expected. That we would get an alliance of all the minds of persons who feel like they can contribute, including Mr Warner,” he said.
Even though both Griffith and Warner were billed as speakers at the UNC’s Monday Night Report, only Warner took to the stage. Sources indicated it was due to time limitations.
Asked what exactly was different between this coalition and 2013, Griffith said this time there would be a lot more “cooperation, communication and mutual respect”.
When Warner took to the stage he said they were all united against a “common enemy”. That was a similar mantra when the Fyzabad Accord was signed among five political parties creating the People’s Partnership. There was unity in solely trying to defeat Prime Minister Patrick Manning and the PNM.
It was put to Griffith that this was already done, and it was not very successful. But he said this time was different because it was not as rushed, given there was no snap election to fight.
“There was a rush to have some type of strategic alliance between the relevant parties. This time around we have time,” Griffith said, “We are going to use the Local Government Elections as an avenue to build the foundation.”
Griffith asked that the public not look at 2010 as the example of what they are planning, but instead 1983, with the alliance between the Organisation for National Reconstruction and the United Labour Front which contested the Local Government Elections first and then united under the National Alliance to win the 1986 election 33-3.
“1986 is what we’re looking at where the whole country wanted to be united,” Griffith said. “So we are going to use the Local Government Elections as a platform towards a unified body of different parties working together toward general election.”
Even though the NAR won in 1986, like the People’s Partnership, the party only served one term.
When asked if there were any promises made to either him or Warner for election 2025, Griffith said for now, they were all focused on August 14.
As for Warner’s role in this campaign, Griffith could not say how prominent he would be featured.
“It will be inappropriate to say what his role will be,” Griffith said, “The first person who needs to state that is Mr Warner himself.”