NSA party launches local government candidates

Political leader, Nirvan Maharaj, said at the launch on Saturday at the Rienzi Complex in Couva, that there was no fundamental difference between the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) administration and the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) because both parties are controlled by an “interlocking directorate of PNM and UNC financiers.” The NSA will be contesting five districts in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation; two districts in the Couva/ Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation ([CTTRC), and one district in the Mayaro/ Rio Claro Regional Corporation and the Princes Town Regional Corporation respectively.

Addressing members of the party, Maharaj acknowledged that while the journey into electoral politics would be “long, hard and daunting at times”, change in the political landscape was necessary to preserve the country for future generations. He said, “We are starting with local elections because local elections are about people not party; it is about direct contact, it is about the issues that affect people on a daily basis.” Maharaj said that there had not been any reform in the local government system despite the submission of such reports, such as the Hazel Manning report, the Rambachan report and lately, the Franklin Khan report.

He said, “We will be contesting nine electoral districts and though I know we have a lot of support on our home-ground.

As a result of our battles to ensure that every single ex-Caroni worker got what was due to them, we are going to challenge the PNM and the UNC where they are strongest, and, where they are equal we are going to show them we are not afraid, that we are the alternative, and, as small as we are and as limited as our resources are, we will not be bullied by either of them.” Maharaj said the population had to ask both the PNM and the UNC how a land, filled with natural resources and human resources, became entangled in a web of crime, corruption, high food prices, “a restraint on wages increases” and failing health and education sectors. The NSA’s political leader said, “We are a nation on the brink, quickly becoming surrounded by the aura of a failed state, and, all these are issues emphasising the practical manifestation of then governance crisis facing our society.” Nine candidates were presented to the membership.