NAR basks in 1986 glory

NINETEEN years after its first and only opportunity to form a government, the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) is still basking in glory over its record (33-3) victory at the polls in 1986. On Wednesday, members listened attentively at their Victoria Avenue headquarters in Port-of-Spain, as Deputy Political Leader, Dr Carson Charles, gave an account of how the party was formed and what it achieved during its five-year term of office (1986-1991). At a function to mark its 19 years  in existence, Charles said the NAR was born out of a struggle to find common ground, and this was mixed with conflict. He said one of the most fundamental questions facing the party at the time was how to transform a culture of protest into one of constructive engagement.

According to Charles, the story of the NAR is the story of the country, because it is the same story that is now facing the country, and if the economy is to turn around, there must be a return of the NAR dream — One Love. However, he advised that it should never be thought that the NAR’s birth was gentle and calm. “Yes we had One Love, but that meant we recognised the need to find a place for each other. It was a challenge,” Charles said. About the NAR’s victory at the polls in 1986, he said, “We really  overcame the political enemy at the time, only for people to turn against each other afterwards, much earlier than most people thought. “But we should congratulate our party for surviving the five years in office and for introducing to the country many of the far-reaching changes that are seeing us still today in a secure state,” he said.

He said when the NAR assumed power, it found that oil production was falling rapidly year by year, and there was no new exploration taking place. “It is the NAR that gave out blocks that invited bids and allocated blocks for exploration to foreign companies to come back to the country, and bring their money and explore again. “It was during that time we saw a return to the expansion of the energy sector of which we enjoyed the benefits later. “The economy turned to the extent that we have so much money that once again, money is no problem,” he said. However, Charles said he thought that although money is no problem, the country is facing terrible problems.