Princes Town: politicians only looking for power

Dookeran, ended weeks of speculation as he moved to resign as political leader of the UNC and formed his own party at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya on September 10.

In explaining his reasons for launching a new party, Dookeran said he tried unsuccessfully to unite the UNC and transform it into a credible political force that the population would accept.

While he acknowledged former opposition leader Basdeo Panday’s “extraordinary contribution” to TT’s political history, he is now ready to make his own history. Dookeran stated that he was fed up with the internal wranglings in the UNC and decided to save the UNC national executive the trouble by launching his own party.

When asked whether the new political party could bring about change in Trinidad and Tobago, Devika Seepersad, 20, who majored in modern studies said that the politicians in this country are fighting for power and they have disregarded the people. “I believe that Dookeran should put aside all his differences and join with Basdeo Panday to fight the PNM. By opening his own party it shows that he is going after power and he is not concerned about the people of this country,” she said. She noted that many people were calling for Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to get back with UNC and when he did Dookeran decided he wanted out. “It would have been good to see how well Dookeran, Ramesh and Panday work together for the betterment of this country.

“But because they cannot unite the people will never get the opportunity to see them together as a team. While Dookeran gathers all the money he could to launch his new party, people are suffering for basic amenities in the country,” she added. She believes that the money should be spent on the poor and needy instead. The young lady praised former prime minister Panday for the good he did for the country saying that given another term as Prime Minister he will do a lot more for the people. She is sure that people in East Indian communities who came out of the sugar cane estates will support Panday for all the good he did for them.

To conclude she said, “the people of the southern districts in TT including Princes Town, Barrackpore, Penal, Siparia and Point Fortin are suffering for good roads and water and the present regime is ignoring these people.”

Businessman Aftab Mohammed on the other hand thinks that Dookeran has the answer. He said that he is supporting him all the way and is hoping that he can win the next general election. He said that Panday had his time at the head and he feels that Dookeran has what it takes to run the country properly. “I heard him speak and I feel sure that he would be able to fix everything for us,” he said. Mohammed’s friend Baldeo Ramdhan said that even if Dookeran does not win election, he will be a better opposition in parliament.

Lennox Mohammed, 43, of St Croix Road, Princes Town said that he will support the PNM in the next election because he cannot see how the other parties can win. “They are a bunch of jokers. And it is because of this that I am supporting the PNM,” he said. He said that the PNM has shown that they can unite and represent the people.

When asked about the government negligence to the bad roads in Barrackpore, Mohammed said that everything will be fixed next year when the general election is nearing.

Asha Sherry Rampersad of Barrackpore said that Trinidad and Tobago will be worse than Guyana in years to come. She said that the parliamentarians are fulling their pockets while the people are suffering for housing and other basic amenities. She said that there are many of the so-called leaders who are now opening up big businesses in the country.

“These people are just finding new ways to make money each day that passes by. They are not concerned about what exactly is happening in the country,” she said. She went on to say that it is only when the election bell rings then they will reach out to the people and coax them into getting their votes.

Rampersad said that she applied for a house since 2003 and although she attended several meetings in NHA office she was never considered although she had all the requirements. She said that she will not support Dookeran as she believes that he was unjust in leaving the UNC. She said that if he cannot unite with the people who have been fighting the political battle for so long then he cannot fight for anything else.

The husband and wife team of Balliram and Sarah Rohan agrees that the PNM is not doing enough for the people in TT. They say that there is no hope for a better government since those in opposition chose to fight each other. Balliram said that he was happy when Panday handed the leadership to Dookeran and he was hoping that Dookeran and Panday would have really joined together to bring relief to the people. He noted that by not being able to unite, they have disappointed the people. By doing so there is little hope for any kind of change in the country. He concluded by saying that Dookeran and Panday will not suffer, since they have a lot going for them but those in the lower and middle income bracket will suffer.

Sahadath Mulchan, 60, of Moruga said that whenever there is a split in the opposition the PNM comes out being victorious. He said that the members of the opposition knew this and they are fully aware that they must unite in order to bring about change. “Dookeran is now forming his own party. The people will not look up to him like this. He has to prove himself. I feel that they will just be spending a lot of money for the next election and the PNM will reap all the benefit. Since they proved that they can unite as a strong body,” he said.

He laments the fact that crime is now rampant in the country and is blaming this on the government who does not have proper planning for the youths who are out on the streets.

He said that the problem is with the youths who want to get rich fast. “If they learn to value themselves then they will look to get quick money but instead they will to live more meaningful lives,” he said.