Bring on the general election

The Laventillians called Manning’s promise of $300 million for the Laventille upgrade as just “another unfulfilled promise” and “election gimmick”.

Joseph Best, 67, of Morvant, Laventille emotionally announced that he was a die-hard PNM, but felt the upgrade was just to fool the people of Laventille for votes.

“You must know when there will be a general election because the politicians come out in full force and promise the people of Laventille things. Elections come and gone and still we living like dogs.

“I believe that they fooling us, so long we in need and want and we never get and then suddenly now they want to give us, Oh please!” Best said.

“I want a new election. Let the people decide. Bring it on, Manning. We will surely decide because we fed up,” he added.

Best said while he knows there are many die-hard PNM supporters, he still believes the present administration would not stand a chance should a general election be called. He, however, said if the PNM should win again, it may be through voter-padding. “There is voter-padding and I believe this rounds, the PNM may win through voter-padding only. We need a change.”

Another man, who is 72 years old but did not want to be named, also called on Manning to call a general election so that “he can escort his own way out of Government”.

“I grew up in a staunch PNM home and I too am a staunch PNM but fair is fair. I have made up my mind to be a part of change and to vote for change.

“Manning has now buried this country and he wants to place the people of Laventille in the grave too but we saying, ‘No’. Manning must go, promises or no promises, he must go,” the elderly man said.

Sandra Brown, a mother of five, also said Manning should go.

“It is time for us to go towards the promise land ourselves and bring change. I believe that (Opposition Leader) Kamla Persad- Bissessar will do something for us and not make promises that she can’t keep. My family consists of over 100 and I can assure you that we have vowed to bring change. A breath of new air.”

On Friday, seven PNM MPs, among them five Cabinet Ministers, went into the PNM stronghold of St Barb’s in Laventille and announced that Cabinet had approved close to $425 million for the upgrade of the Laventille and Beetham areas — all proposed by Prime Minister Patrick Manning.