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Kamla: The UNC is not about talk
Posted On 11 Nov 2019
Introduction
T&T massive! UNC Family and friends, greetings!
Are you ready to get T&T working again?
Are you ready to get our country back on track and on a path of growth?
Are you ready to join with us as we return good governance to our nation?
Are you ready to send this incompetent, lazy, do-nothing Rowley regime packing?
You sound like you more than ready!
Trinidad and Tobago – Welcome to the UNC WorkNation rally!
I am amazed and humbled by your support. This great turnout today means that more and more people are ready to move with the UNC.
More people are rejecting the old style of politics in which our opponents engage – of idle threats, blame and attempts at bullying and belittling people.
More people see that the UNC is the party of the future.
We have the vision, we have a plan, and we have a strong team that is ready to get to work once again for you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
You inspire me to keep working for you.
You inspire me to keep trying to build our nation to make it a better place for all.
I have told you, and I tell you again that half of me belongs to you, the other half I give to you.
I love you all!
I have faith that together, we can restore our nation to greatness.
I know you have it in you.
Your courage, your determination and your optimism inspire me.
You want what we all want – a better future for our country.
Let’s get T&T working again!
Our great party, the UNC is stronger than ever before, we are united, and we are ready to build for the future.
UNC works!!
The wonder of our people
The reason that your great party continues to get up each day and fight for a better nation – despite the challenges, despite the lies and attacks is that we believe that Trinidad and Tobago has some of the most beautiful, most talented, most gifted and most wonderful people in the world.
No other country in the world can rival the warmth, innovation, creativity, courage and caring touch as the citizens of our beloved nation.
What makes us unique is the fact that we are a true melting pot – from the First Peoples, to those who came here from nations across the globe to build for themselves and their children and grandchildren.
They came here on different ships and under different circumstances, but we are all in the same boast SS T&T.
Amazingly, over the years, we have managed to combine the beauty of all these varying cultures into One Nation, our home – Trinidad and Tobago.
We must always honour the memory of the indigenous people who left us with many aspects that are integral parts of our daily lives, and who continue to uphold and preserve their proud traditions today.
Our nation’s history was altered with the arrival of the first set of Europeans, the Spanish in 1498, followed by the Dutch in 1628, French in 1777 and the British in 1797.
Today we are blessed with many descendants of these early European settlers who, like others, have greatly impacted our national development, especially as it relates to law, democracy, business and even religion.
However, it was the arrival of our African forefathers, who first came to Trinidad in 1604 and later our East Indian forefathers who arrived in 1845 which would play a defining role in this nation’s social and economic framework.
Together with our Chinese brothers and sisters who came as early as 1853 and our Syrian Lebanese compatriots who first arrived in 1904, we have all united as one people to create a country that has offered a home, which has offered a stable way of life, has offered love and togetherness, but most importantly it has offered the opportunity to succeed.
We have all united to create a nation that has starred on the world stage in most aspects of life, from sport, academia, literature, art, music and global development.
Today, however, the incompetence, failed leadership and selfish governance of the Rowley regime threaten the beauty of this nation.
At times, to mask their failures, they attempt to divide and conquer.
But as a people, we must never forget the unity which has brought us this far as a nation.
As citizens, we must never forget that the key to our success has been the ability to combine the special qualities of each heritage and culture to create a unique brand.
As a people, we must be reminded of the strengths which emerged from different cultures to be the best that we can be.
We must understand that we must remain as one because it is when we dream and aspire as one that we can achieve as one.
We must etch the words of our national anthem into our daily routines – “Here every creed and race find an equal place.”
We must work to make our modus operandi the words of our national motto – “Together we aspire, together we achieve.”
Together, we will win!
The reason I remind you of the beauty and strength of our people is that we need to ask ourselves, what type of leadership do we require as a people?
Given our talent, our skills and diverse beauty, we require leadership which can allow our people to achieve their true potential while respecting the unique backgrounds of each.
I ask you to remember our struggle as a people, remember when the black power movement marched to Caroni to unite with sugar workers.
Remember when we came together to rebuild our nation after the 1990 attempted coup.
Remember the joy we shared when Hasely Crawford won our first gold, Brian Lara broke the world record or young Keshorn Walcott won us another gold in 2012.
Reflect on the joy we share for Eid, Diwali and Christmas.
As a people, we have shared many joyous moments, as a people we have always shown strength and unity of purpose.
Today I tell you, the future of our nation requires us to stand together once more and defend our way of life and to rescue our nation from the wicked Rowley regime.
The importance of this local government election
This local government election is critical.
As you know, for almost a year, we have been hard at work preparing.
We have been on the ground, meeting people and hearing their concerns.
The response to our call to come forward and serve the people was overwhelming.
We received hundreds of nominations from people from every walk of life, every creed, every race, young and the not so young.
I am extremely pleased to see so many young people come forward – because as we go forward, it is the youth who will become the leaders of tomorrow.
Thank you for answering the call to serve.
These bright and brilliant minds are the future.
On this stage, you see the vibrancy, the strength, the diversity and the innovative spirit of the United National Congress.
My friends, December 2nd, will be no ordinary election.
That’s because these are not ordinary times.
Never before in the history of Trinidad and Tobago has so much been at stake in an election.
For this local government election – you have a choice.
On the one hand, is a party which has delivered nothing in four years and has shown that it doesn’t care about making your life better.
On the other hand, is the UNC – the bright spark of energy, drive and vision, with a proven track record of delivery and a plan to take us forward.
Plain talk, bad manners: the PNM TALKS, the UNC WORKS!!
Show me your voting finger!
On December 2nd put your x next to the rising sun
Like many of you from the southland who work in the North, I often return to my home after nightfall.
And every night on my way home as I pass through Pointe-a-Pierre I always notice how dark it has become.
The Rowley regime has extinguished the flames that once burned brightly at the Petrotrin refinery.
And those flames have gone out through no fault of the workers, but rather through incompetence and wickedness and the desire by some people to hide their misdeeds in darkness.
My friends, the extinguished flames of the Petrotrin refinery serve as a metaphor for the state of our nation. T&T is in a state of darkness.
But let me tell you, our nation has seen difficult times before. We have had to endure hardships and struggles.
The path we walk as free, independent people has never been easy.
But we have always risen to the occasion to meet every challenge we have faced!
No matter what religion we may follow, no matter what race we may be and no matter what political party we support – we are, and will always be, one united people.
Hand in hand, we have worked and rebuilt what others destroyed.
And with your support, this great party, the UNC, will do it again!
Pain and Suffering Under the Rowley regime
This is a tragic time and it pains me whenever I think about it.
Sometimes, when I sit with my family at mealtime, I am thankful that I can put my food on my plate to eat, but I am also deeply saddened.
Because I know there are thousands of children who don’t have any food to eat when the night comes.
There are thousands of parents here, some right here who cannot afford food for their children and I know… I know!
I am a mother and a grandmother too!
I know that we mothers cannot bear to see our children hungry.
We will rather starve and give that last piece of bread, bake or roti to our children than see them hungry.
The most painful thing is when you hear your children ask if there is more of that roti or bake because they are still hungry and you know that because of the tough times you are facing, you know there isn’t any more food in that pot.
The most painful thing is to tell them no, no to food man?
No food for our children?
That must be the most hurtful thing for any mother – for any parent!
Our children are the future, and if the Government can’t help them the least they can do is not put their parents out of work.
Their parents have lost their jobs by the thousands – losing their ability to provide for our children.
We are big, we are grownup, we can survive for now, but what about the children?
The future of our nation is under attack.
Education
The Rowley regime continues to show their contempt for our young people in particular by their gross mismanagement of our education system.
We have seen where we made advancements, they have not only stopped those advancements, but they have walked back.
The laptop programme for one – This was intended to bring Technology to not only the children but to entire homes.
I am sure many of you here who are not so young like myself have been taught by our children and grandchildren how to use a computer, how to search the internet and more.
We grew up with the calculator alone, and now our children are living in the new digital age, and if we do not equip them with the necessary skills, they will be left behind.
It seems this is what the Rowley regime wants for our children while their children can enjoy everything.
The school feeding programme more looks like the school malnutrition programme instead. Our children cannot even say they will get breakfast when they come to school.
For some children, the last meal for the day is the one that they used to get in school. That was the intention of the school feeding programme.
Many of our successful young citizens today were able to afford school because they didn’t have to worry about food because the school feeding programme was there.
Many parents have no choice but to keep their children home because they cannot afford to transport them, the taxi fares are too much, or they cannot afford food to pack for them for lunch.
The Rowley regime has made a mockery of all of this. They are playing with our children’s future.
Look at how many schools are left abandoned by the Rowley regime.
Look at the South UWI Campus.
If I were Prime Minister, students would have been graduating today from that campus.
We would have had thousands more of young new professionals ready to advance our nation from the South UWI Campus.
They would have been able to take care of their parents and grandparents. Every parent’s dream is to see their children become successful.
I, just like all of you parents, want that as well. I wanted to see my children get a good education and make something of themselves.
It pains me to see what is happening to our schools.
Every school left abandoned is another nail in the coffin of our children’s future.
Health
Today we are seeing thousands of citizens, our brothers and sisters having to spend days and nights on the floors of the hospitals.
Thousands of them having to sleep on benches because they cannot get a bed to rest on.
Can you imagine the pain and frustration of taking your sick relative, your father, your mother, your brother, your sister or your child to the hospital for medical care only to see them having to sleep on the floor?
Can you imagine having to see them sitting on a chair and waiting for a bed while they are in excruciating pain and agony?
None of us would ever want to be in that situation. I would never wish that upon my worst enemy.
I am convinced that we have the most incompetent Minister of Health in the entire world!
A Minister who thinks that keeping a fully equipped hospital closed is a big achievement.
He has spited the people of Trinidad and Tobago for the past four years by refusing to open the Couva CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL.
If that wasn’t bad enough, they have now turned this state-of-the-art facility into a drug store.
A drug store people! We deserve so much better!
Crime
Daily we are bombarded with reports of incidents of violence, murder, robbery and other crimes against citizens.
What is noticeable is that under the PNM – any PNM administration but more so with this Rowley regime – when they are in office, criminal activity increases.
I remember the days when kidnapping was a common case, every morning I would look at the newspaper and I was almost guaranteed to read about an unfortunate kidnapping for ransom. It became a business under the PNM.
Every one of us knew that whenever we left our homes, we knew it was a chance. Every time we entered that Chinese restaurant, it was a chance, every time we stopped for that late-night corn soup, it was a chance we were taking.
When I came into office after the rampage that was allowed to run by the former PNM Government, I said to myself, I cannot let this continue.
I knew from before, that was what motivated me, the fear I felt, the fear I saw in you, the concern for your children, I felt it the same way.
When I was there we brought serious crime down to the lowest in three decades.
Murders were down, kidnappings were drastically reduced, robberies were declining, people could have stayed out late, we had fun, we enjoyed ourselves, we worked hard, businesses were thriving, and we all felt safer.
I know all of you here today can agree with me when I say we all felt safer before this calamity called Keith Rowley took over.
Folks cannot even clean their own yard in broad daylight anymore. We see the elderly couples enjoying an evening together but bandits have become so emboldened under Rowley and his failed Minister of National InSecurity that bandits just walk into citizens homes, walk through as if they own the place and take whatever they want, from hard-working citizens.
I remember growing up how hard my parents worked and saved for years to finally buy a car. Nothing fancy in those days but that was all my father had. We all know how much men love their cars.
Today I know so many families whose prized material possession is their family car. The same car, you can enjoy a nice Sunday drive with your family in. The car that takes your children to school.
These bandits would just come in and take it from you at gunpoint in your own home.
I want you all to close your eyes for a second and imagine, God Forbid any of us happens to be in that situation, you are at home, relaxing in your yard, broad daylight and suddenly, these ruthless bandits storm your home.
An absolute horror to even think of it, far less to experience it.
What about our small business owners? Our shop keepers and restaurants have been under a constant barrage of robberies.
Look at all of the innocent children, mothers who lost their children to these bandits who come to rob a store and just shoot the customers because they didn’t get anything of value.
The wound never goes away.
A permanent hole remains.
What about our fishermen?
What about the ones who were recently slaughtered without any mercy by pirates?
Our fishermen, young boys, hardworking breadwinners of their family, braving the rough seas every morning to earn a living, slaughtered for boat engines. Young boys snatched away from their parents – I cry for them.
There is no more time to point out their failings.
We need solutions, and the UNC is focused on getting our country working again!
So, I have not come here today to tell you about the failed Keith Rowley regime – rather I have come here to join with you in saying farewell to this failed Keith Rowley regime.
Their time is over, and soon, the people of our beloved nation will choose the best and only option to move our country forward – the United National Congress!
My friends, let us kick off this campaign in memory of the thousands who have lost their lives, homes, families and jobs because of this incompetent Rowley regime.
I cry for them all.
Hardly a family has been left untouched by the scourge of crime which is not only allowed but encouraged by this wicked Rowley regime.
I cry for our nation.
I cry for our children whose once-bright future dims with each passing day under this Rowley regime.
I weep for them all.
We must take time to mourn.
I have never been stronger, I am ready, and with your love as my fuel, I can take on any man woman or beast that may come at me.
Better have come and all have lost because my love for you can never be matched.
UNC will Transform T&T
I have heard our political opponents say that they do not intend to talk about local government. That’s because for them, it is not a priority.
It is really because they have no plan. They never did.
But we in the UNC recognize that local issues affect each and every one of us.
When you don’t have proper drainage you get flooding, and the losses that occur from that.
When your garbage is not collected it can cause a health hazard.
And of course, crime is rampant, and people feel insecure wherever they go. Families with young children don’t even go to the parks any more out of fear they may become victims of criminals.
When the UNC returns to work for the people of T&T, we will do so fully prepared.
We have been working for well over a year with the best economists and minds across the country; and we have formulated our National Economic Transformation Master Plan.
As you can see, we have a plan to transform and move our country forward.
We have built our Plan on five (5) interconnected guiding principles.
PRINCIPLE 1: PEOPLE CENTRED DEVELOPMENT – GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
The core philosophy of the United National Congress is that our nation’s greatest resource is our people. Build up our people, and we will build our nation!
A new UNC Government remains dedicated to creating jobs and getting people back to work, safeguarding social equity and justice and protecting people’s rights.
We commit to supporting lifelong learning, skills building and giving full rein to the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of all our citizens.
Putting you back into jobs is our priority so you can care for yourself and your family.
We have done it before, and I assure you we will do it again.
PRINCIPLE 2: PRO-BUSINESS – ALLOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DRIVE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
We will follow a pro-business strategy, which allows the private sector to be the main driver of economic growth, transformation and sustainable development.
A new UNC Government will focus on improving the ease of doing business, tackling crime, removing obstacles to business growth and expansion, and attracting local and foreign investments by providing an enabling environment and necessary incentives.
Had it not been for the business incentives that my government put in place in 2010 to 2015, the economy today would have been much worse off.
These incentives that we would provide to stimulate economic activity will become the engine of the vehicle to get us where we need to be.
PRINCIPLE 3: RESILIENCE – DEEPEN ECONOMIC REFORMS BUT WITH A HUMAN FACE
Deepening economic reforms with a human face is a powerful force for sustainable development.
A new UNC Government will focus on improving the economy’s resilience to future shocks, bringing the budget into balance, stabilizing high public debt, protecting our external position and safeguarding financial stability.
Reducing poverty, closing the income inequality gap between rich and poor, and providing a safety net for the poor and vulnerable will form an important part of our economic reform agenda and lead to more economic opportunities for people and a better quality of life for all.
One hand doesn’t clap; we must collaborate to get it done because people’s issues and needs must be balanced with policy and direction.
PRINCIPLE 4: LOCAL CONTENT – GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND INDEPENDENCE
Local content has the potential to stimulate broad-based economic development, which will give a sense of ownership and independence to everyone in our society.
All projects will include opportunities to maximize local content and local value-added through jobs, skills training, procurement of goods and services and technology transfer.
Reducing our high propensity to import will be addressed through a meaningful national, local content policy which focuses on our existing agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
Side by side we stand must engender greater meeting we must not only talk the talk but walk the walk.
PRINCIPLE 5: SUSTAINABILITY – PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Trinidad and Tobago is blessed with abundant natural resources, from forests and wildlife to rivers and wetlands to coastal and marine ecosystems.
This natural environment is the foundation of our well-being and, by extension, our economy.
We must promote greater environmental stewardship, making more responsible use of renewable resources and ensuring water, food and energy security.
Our children and their children must inherit a better Trinidad and Tobago than us.
As you saw in the video, a new UNC government pledges to create 50,000 new jobs by 2025.
At the heart of this job creation plan is the diversification of our economy. For far too long, our country’s economic fortunes have been too closely linked to the energy sector.
We will encourage strategic investments in niche non-energy sectors where we have strong competitive advantage, market opportunity and growth potential.
Our plan embodies a “business unusual” spirit. This spirit will see the private sector take the lead in strategic projects while the Government will play a facilitative role.
Of the many interventions, we have identified and singled out 12 prosperity engines spread across communities in Trinidad and Tobago.
These prosperity engines will mobilise and engage the private sector, both local and international, and their implementation will have large positive multiplier effects in kickstarting the economic recovery, fostering growth and supporting diversification.
The Twelve Prosperity Engines
1. BRECHIN CASTLE AGRO-PROCESSING COMPLEX
2. ORGANIC SUGAR AND SUCROSE DERIVATIVE MANUFACTURING FACILITY
3. EAST WEST BIOTECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING CORRIDOR
4. SEVILLA DIGITAL INNOVATION PARK
5. TAMANNA “SOLARTECH” RENEWABLE ENERGY PARK
6. WEST PORT OF SPAIN “TRINI CREATIVE ARTS STREET/AREA
7. EAST PORT OF SPAIN STEELPAN MANUFACTURING FACILITY
8. PIARCO AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. REPAIR AND OPERATIONS HUB
9. CEDROS/MORUGA SOUTHWEST PENINSULA ECONOMIC ZONE
10. POINT GALEOTA ENERGY LOGISTICS HUB
11. PLYMOUTH INTERNATIONAL CRUISE SHIP/MARINA COMPLE
12. TOBAGO’S FIRST LOCALLY BRANDED HOTEL
The First 90 Days of the next UNC government
We are ready to govern. We are ready to hit the ground running, and for this we have a plan of what we intend to do in the first 90 days after we return to office:
- We have shown how the Property Tax legislation is flawed, and we will repeal it.
- We will fix the broken sea and air bridge between the islands and have it running smoothly.
- We will protect our farmers and fisherfolk by incorporating the Praedial larceny squad into the TTPS -So our farmers and fishermen would no longer be told that they need to “make a quiet request to the government for help”.
- We will settle all outstanding issues for ex-Caroni Workers, Cane Farmers and Petrotrin employees.
- Within the first three months in office, citizens will be able to benefit from the quality health care that will be available at the Couva Children’s hospital.
- So that our citizens will feel safe once again, we will provide the TTPS with the resources they need to catch the criminals and bring crime down.
- We will work with stakeholders to get the Petrotrin refinery working again.
- We will work with the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Statistical Office to determine the true state of the economy, the country’s finances and capital projects, and share that information with citizens. Unlike the conman stats we have been receiving.
- A UNC Government is committed to transparency, accountability and good governance. We will fully proclaim the Procurement legislation and provide the Office of the Procurement Regulator with its budgetary resources.
- We will prepare a divestment plan and debt workout strategy for non-strategic, loss-making state enterprises.
- We will scrap the proposed Revenue Authority.
- We will examine and address the issue of outstanding VAT Refunds, which is crippling our SME sector.
- We will prepare legislation to reduce personal income and corporate taxes and simplify the VAT regime.
- We will begin drafting legislation to fully integrate the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) into a new fiscal responsibility framework.
- We will mandate each Minister to prepare a one-year action agenda for consideration and approval of Cabinet. Each Ministerial action agenda once approved, will be included in our next budget.
- We will share with citizens our priorities for action during our upcoming budgetary period.
- We will formulate a project plan for completion of all infrastructural projects currently in train.
- We will establish the Economic Strategy Council.
- We will initiate discussions on forging economic partnership agreements with the governments.
- We will begin a public “Green Building” pilot with the Twin Towers (Ministry of Finance and Central Bank buildings) and the International Waterfront Centre.
- We will mandate the National Institute for Higher Education Research Science and Technology (NIHERST) to conduct fore-sighting exercises to consider the adoption and use of biotechnology and digital technologies within specific industries.
- We will ban all single-use plastic straws and mandate Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL) to develop a new national recycling education programme.
- We will table legislation for the decriminalisation of Marijuana.
- We will develop a National Health Insurance System.
- We will develop a Mental Health plan to decentralize mental health care and make it more accessible.
- We will complete the National Oncology Centre.
- We will table legislation to amend the Children’s Life Find Act to widen the listed diseases including beta-thalassemia.
- We will initiate the process of aligning GATE funding to economic priority areas and labour market needs.
- We will restart the Laptop programme in schools.
- We will request both the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to initiate the process of creating the National Food Security Fund, a National Infrastructure Fund and a National Climate Trust Fund. These three innovative funds will mobilise financial resources for our economic development plan without raising public debt.
- We will request both the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to prepare an action plan for issuing diaspora bonds to the Trinidad and Tobago diaspora community.
- We will re-establish the Ministry of the People.
- We will re-establish the Ministry of Justice.
The UNC is not about talk. They talk; UNC works. We get the job done.
It’s about working for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. And the UNC will get Trinidad and Tobago working again!
I want you to be able to put food on the table when the day comes.
The UNC’s core philosophy has been to improve the lives of all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
During the Government I led, we invested in policies, projects and programmes to achieve this
We also recognized that investment in our human capital, particularly our young people, is critical to national development.
As we move forward, we remain focused on ensuring that our young people are given opportunities to grow, develop and become productive citizens.
We laid a strong foundation during our term in Government, and when we are returned to office, we will build on the good work and advancements we made, to return our country to growth.
UNC’s Record
I feel it’s important that I share with you, once again, some of the many achievements of the Government I led.
The Rowley regime has done nothing in the four years they’ve been in office, (except their blame Kamla campaign) and hope that the people forget the work we did.
But it is important that you are reminded:
- We created more than 55,000 jobs
- We stabilized the economy and returned to a growth path
- We brought serious crimes down to the lowest levels in over three decades
- WE improved health care delivery across the country
- We established the Children’s Life Fund to give critically ill children a chance to access life-saving medical care
- We built over 100 new schools
- We delivered clean water to 70% of the population
- We constructed Hundreds of kilometres of new roads
- We built thousands of new homes
- We built the Couva Children’s Hospital, the San Fernando Teaching Hospital, the Carenage Health facility, completed the Hospital in Tobago and started the Arima and Point Fortin Hospitals
- We built several police stations
- We carried out Infrastructure development across the length and breadth of TT
These are just a handful – because there are too many to mention here.
I will never apologize for investing in our people because that is the simple mandate of any government – to protect, provide and invest in its people.
The UNC best hope for T&T
My friends, as I said at the start, this year’s Local Government Election polls are important, and your vote counts.
This Rowley regime has failed at both the local and national level.
Today citizens awaken to empty cupboards like mother Hubbard.
They are met with the horror of not having a job to go to.
They face the trauma of not being able to send their children to school.
They face the terror of not being able to put a meal on the table.
They are tormented by the threats of disastrous flooding every time rain falls.
Today citizens have tempered their dreams of seeing their children in successful careers or having prosperous families because under this “red and ready” team our national future, outlook and prospects seem gloomier than they have ever been.
However, you must never stop believing that we can transform and move our nation forward.
You must never give up the hope that we can put our country back on the road to economic stability, prosperity and individual security.
On December 2nd 2019 we can begin that journey of rebuilding our nation and putting the dreams of people back on track by sending the Rowley Regime a message at the polls.
On December 2nd 2019 we can work to break the yoke of underdevelopment, neglect, hardship and economic burdens of our citizens by standing up to the Rowley Regime.
Together we will begin a journey to save our nation, a journey which you can be assured that my team and I have the experience, youthful innovation, intellect, grassroots determination, patriotic commitment and national love to successfully traverse.
I have dedicated my entire life to improving the lives of people.
In the past four years when many thought we would give up the fight, my team and I became stronger, we fought harder and we worked to defend the rights, freedoms and liberties of people.
I have spent many sleepless days and nights troubled by the cries of our citizens but more importantly I have spent hundreds of hours working on a plan to ease the pain of our citizens.
My plan and vision are based on people centered development and getting our country working again.
As a leader, my fight is to ensure that breadwinners would be able to put food on the table.
Remember that you can’t feed your families with that red jersey.
We cannot eat that free jersey and we cannot live off a “10 days”.
Together with my team we were able to put over 50 thousand citizens to work giving them a real chance at providing for their families.
They were able to celebrate Christmas with their families.
They were able to enjoy life without worrying about where the next meal was coming from.
I will continue to fight to ensure that fathers and mothers would have jobs to protect their families.
I will continue to fight to ensure that mothers would be given the full tools and opportunities to nurture their children.
I will continue to fight to ensure that the children of janitors/labourers have the same opportunity and chance at success as those of lawyers and doctors.
I will continue to fight to ensure that each and every child, despite their social, economic, racial or geographical background can have the opportunity to obtain their dreams.
I will continue to fight to ensure young people are made equal partners in national development.
I will continue to fight to ensure that each and every citizen from the labourer, the store clerk, the lawyer, the businessman, the taxi driver. The police officer and public servants can all benefit from the resources of our nation.
I will continue to fight for each and every citizen to have a better nation.
I started this fight many years ago but the moment of reckoning is quickly approaching and I ask you to join me.
I ask you to look at the dedication I have always given to you, never once have I left your side. With each crisis I have stood with you.
My heart is yours; my love is committed to our nation, my dedication to people.
Let’s begin the rebuilding process.
In the coming days, you will see the team of talented, innovative and dedicated candidates which are thoroughly representative of our diverse nation within your communities.
I ask you to work, support, guide and join with them as we work to save our nation.
I ask you to take my hand to get Trinidad and Tobago working again.
Know that even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise.
Know that when they attack me, it is because they want to get to you. I just happen to be in the way.
I will remain right where I am because I have never been stronger.
I have never been more determined.
We have reached a point in our national journey where it is pertinent that we remember the preamble of our Constitution since the Rowley regime seems to have forgotten namely that we:
“affirm that the Nation of Trinidad and Tobago is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, faith in fundamental human rights and freedoms, the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions, the dignity of the human person and the equal and inalienable rights with which all members of the human family are endowed by their Creator;
respect the principles of social justice and therefore believe that the operation of the economic system should result in the material resources of the community being so distributed as to subserve the common good, that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all, that labour should not be exploited or forced by economic necessity to operate in inhumane conditions but that there should be opportunity for advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability and integrity;
assert [our] belief in a democratic society in which all persons may, to the extent of their capacity, play some part in the institutions of the national life and thus develop and maintain due respect for lawfully constituted authority;
recognise that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of law.”
Show me your voting finger!!
On December 2nd, put your X next to the Rising Sun and let’s start to get T&T working again!
Remember you have had leaders before me; you will have leaders after me. But you will never have a leader who loves you as much as I do!
I thank you, and God bless you.
Talk Done!
Speaking Notes of
The Hon Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
UNC LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION – CANDIDATE LAUNCH
November 10, 2019
