Warner not taking ILP into PP
Local Government Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan says it’s sad that re-elected Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner does not want to work with the People’s Partnership Government. Rambachan was speaking with reporters during an Emancipation Day parade and cultural rally in his Tabaquite constituency yesterday. Asked to comment on the PP’s crushing defeat in Monday’s by-election by Warner, who won by a landslide under his newly-formed Independent Liberal Party (ILP), Rambachan said: “The people have spoken and we accept that.” Warner received 12,642 votes to United National Congress (UNC) candidate Khadijah Ameen’s 5,129 in Monday’s election. Several PP coalition members, including Congress of the People leader Prakash Ramadhar, have since called for an urgent meeting to discuss the heavy defeat and how the PP would respond.
Yesterday, however, Rambachan, who is also the Works and Infrastructure Minister, said there was nothing to recover from. “What it is we have to do is to build our constituency, listen to the people and see what it is we need to do in order to make them happy,” he said. “I don’t think the people are against the UNC. I think the people want a higher level of representation and maybe what we have to do, while we have done hundreds and hundreds of projects, we have not communicated fully to the people the extent of work that we have done.” Asked if the PP was willing to work with Warner, he said, “Mr Warner has said in the last two days that he is no longer prepared to work with the People’s Partnership. “That is a sad thing because he promised the people of Felicity and Chaguanas West that he was going to go and apply to the Partnership and so on and now he has defined his territory, which excludes the PP.” Addressing the issue of joining with the PP on his official Facebook page yesterday, Warner said: “There is not much hope. “An analysis of what the People’s Partnership has morphed into suggests to us that the only common ground we share is that we are both in opposition to the PNM but that is all. “Based on what is being practised by the People’s Partnership today, our visions for Trinidad and Tobago are different from theirs; our missions are miles apart.”
Warner also made similar comments during a news conference on Wednesday, in which he said the ILP membership did not want him to join the Partnership. Rambachan also commented on the manner in which President Anthony Carmona had dismissed four senators, replacing them with four new senators, saying: “The President is free to appoint his senators and one must also respect that. That is part of democracy.” As for his Emancipation message, he said it was a simple one. “Let’s celebrate the work of our ancestors who have brought us to this level of freedom and democracy and also it gives us an opportunity to build strong spiritual values. Without this we would not have been where we are today.” The rally, held by Rambachan in collaboration with Neptune School of Arts, began at Caratal Road and ended at Gasparillo Junction where a cultural show was held.
Jack’s letter to PM Kamla
Dear Political Leader,
Even though to date I have not been afforded the courtesy of being formally informed by the UNC that I have been rejected as its candidate for the July 29 bye-election, I am still convinced that respect for you, makes it necessary that I will inform you of my recent activities.
I wish to state that as of 8 pm, I would have formed a political party under which banner I will contest the bye election. Although I will be contesting against the UNC and PNM which have both offered candidates, my intention is to offer my party to be a part of the People’s Partnership after the bye election of July 29.
This is in keeping with the trend set by the People’s Partnership to unite all opposition against the PNM, a precedence that has already been set where in the Coalition there are members in Parliament with no party and parties that have no MPs.
I expect the same open arm approach when I apply for membership after the election. I wish to remind you that you have always clearly positioned yourself as mother and grandmother of this nation which I have never challenged.
However, against this background I am appealing to your maternal instincts to leave my family… my wife and three sons out of the politics of hate and revenge. Politics of hate and revenge which has overwhelmed our society and painfully scorched our landscape.
I have no problem with attacks on me but when it comes to my family I am extremely sensitive and will defend my family against any and all attacks. Finally, I have taken note that there is no response not even a letter of acknowledgment to the last three letters I have sent you. I note that this is not your style. I am hoping that you drift away from the recent trend and at least acknowledge this letter. Warm regards,
Jack Warner, Interim Political Leader, IRP