*Kamla’s insistence to have a 21 seat UNC government is at the centre of her refusing to align with political parties of substance and it has now dashed the hope of hundreds of thousands who want end to bad governance*
The NTA expresses disappointment with Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s position on an alliance with the NTA, but affirms it will not be used as a political pawn, as information received suggests secret UNC meetings offering a safe seat to another party’s representative in exchange for a manufactured coalition, on the condition that they will allow that party to join the UNC and come under the umbrella of the UNC in the hope of fooling voters that there is some type of an alliance.
This tactic is exactly why one party in the Bridge Constituency acquired 148,000 votes in 2007 but went down to a mere 467 in 2020. It also demonstrates Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s and others’ failure to learn from past mistakes. The NTA will not allow its supporters to be similarly exploited.
And with the NTA having already signed an MOU with another political party, it is interesting that one of the political leaders already stated that there is no agreement made with either the NTA, HOPE, UNC, and other organisations such as the unions, even though the MOU was actually signed and confirmed by his predecessor. Also interesting is that his very first comment was not to build his own party but it was to openly praise Kamla, which is indeed extravagant news.
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s claim of requesting NTA data is also false. The NTA wrote to her after the LGE campaign, but received no response. Her pursuit of this data is hypocritical as well, considering her alliance with Philip Alexander, whose party has effectively dissolved, and we challenge anyone to name one other person besides Phillip in the party.
In addition, the NTA does not need to prove its “worthiness” to the UNC. Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s previous eagerness for NTA support during the local elections exposes this hypocrisy even further, especially in key constituencies like Sangre Grande and San Fernando. This also makes her comments suggesting the NTA did poorly in the LGE and that we used the UNC’s strength and resources laughable, since not only did the UNC candidates utilise our POS and Diego Martin offices for their campaigns, she seems to have forgotten that in its 35 year history, the UNC has never won any of the 31 seats the NTA contested in the LGE without the support of a third party.
I personally walked with all their candidates, at her early morning urgings, which ensured they won one more seat in both the Sangre Grande and San Fernando Corporations. Both constituencies are pivotal for a General Election win, and as history has shown us, the UNC is unable to secure an election victory once there is a third-party contender involved.
But perhaps the best evidence about the value of the NTA and as to what will occur in the General Elections if the UNC does not work with the NTA, is the recent Lengua/Indian Walk bye-election results where the UNC turned a 1428 PNM and UNC tie when UNC was with the NTA into a 2083 PNM to 1136 UNC loss, 6 months later when the UNC went alone.
*The Jerlean John crocodile tears is also a red-herring*
The focus on comments about Jerlean John is another red herring. The NTA simply stated that Ms. John’s view that the UNC should contest elections alone was wrong, a point Mrs. Persad-Bissessar now validates by seeking alliances. Furthermore, she embraces Philip Alexander despite his offensive remarks against her and the UNC, including personal insults and pledges to work with the PNM. This double standard is clear. She appears to be using Alexander to attack opponents while maintaining a respectable image. Floating voters will not be fooled.
*These distractions mask Ms. Persad-Bissessar’s true aim: a 21-seat UNC government of compliant individuals, which the NTA will not support, as it will lead to the political domestic abuse which took place between 2010 and 2015.*
And since the UNC Political Leader believes she can seek our resume, as the political leader of the NTA, I am now asking her to prove her worthiness to work with the NTA by answering the following:
*- Would she fire a Government Minister simply because he insisted that he would truthfully aid a police investigation against another Minister?*
*- Would she support a Minister investigating potential wrongdoing, such as the Life Sport program?*
*- Would she allow Government officials to award contracts to known gang leaders?*
Many within the UNC privately agree that alliances are necessary but fear Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s retribution. The NTA holds her solely responsible for the lack of a unified opposition. Her tactics and false claims prevent genuine collaboration.
The NTA urges the country to recognise this and understand that continuing this path, especially with Alexander’s distasteful input, guarantees electoral defeat.
The NTA advocates for genuine collaboration based on mutual respect and shared principles and rejects Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s current approach, which is focused on getting rid of a bad government and not getting rid of bad governance, which is a core driver of the NTA.
Gary Griffith
Political Leader, National Transformation Alliance (NTA)
Email: ntaistheway@gmail.com
WhatsApp: 482-GARY (4279) / 483-GARY (4279)
