Senior Political Reporter
Officials from both the United National Congress and National Transformation Alliance confirmed no formal agreement document has been signed on their accommodation.
Questions about this were sent to UNC Public Relations Officers Dr Kirk Meighoo and deputy leaders Roodal Moonilal, David Lee, Jearlean John, and the NTA’s Gary Griffith but received no reply.
However, the position was clarified by other UNC executive officials and NTA spokespersons.
Following the accommodation’s united display on the political platform on Monday featuring Jack Warner, Griffith and Persad-Bissessar, questions arose as to whether or not there was a signed agreement for the arrangement.
For the Peoples’ Partnership coalition, an accord was signed on April 21, 2010, in Fyzabad, among the UNC, Movement for Social Justice, Congress of the People, National Joint Action Committee and Tobago Organisation of the People. The MSJ dropped out in 2012, claiming the UNC had destroyed the coalition.
Yesterday, UNC officials said the current accommodation was an electoral arrangement and decisions were made among leaders who discuss and co-ordinate matters.
They also noted statements by Warner and ILP general secretary Indra Maharaj that the ILP would be dissolved for its members to join UNC. Warner did not answer calls yesterday.
He is expected to be on the campaign trail again today with the UNC and NTA.
He was billed to hit the streets with the UNC in Bon Air with team leader Brain Baig and is expected to be on Moruga on Saturday.
Gary goes after Marvin
NTA leader Gary Griffith slammed Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales’ comments on the Opposition’s accommodation. He responded to Gonzales, who dubbed Warner’s return as a threat to the moral values of this country, via a statement describing Gonzales as a failure.
“The biggest failure as a minister in Rowley’s Cabinet, after Hinds, is undoubtedly Gonzales, who now seems to have the ability to finally speak and be active after three years in slumber, hence the reason for him being a total failure and unable to provide the basic needs in his Ministry of Public Utilities to our citizens,” said Griffith.
He claimed that Gonzales was one of the main reasons why voters were turning their backs on the PNM.
He alleged that Gonzales could not provide basic needs to citizens.
Griffith also had some advice for Gonzales.
“When making a cheap attempt to win votes he should remember ... Jack Warner is just one of over 350,000 plus citizens that support the UNC and/or NTA, but he holds no position of authority or post in either party,” he added.
Griffith said he was privileged to have a personal family and was proud of showing them off as part of his election strategy.