NAR leader ranks ex-PMs

Incumbent Prime Minister Patrick Manning “is not there yet,” Charles said, in an address to NAR members assembled for a regional meeting at Couva Junior Secondary School on Saturday.

In Charles’ view, Manning has alienated the people, ignoring their objections to the construction of an aluminium smelter plant and stadium in Tarouba.

“It must be remembered that his job is to govern and give service to the people and not to oppress and rule,” he said.

“Do not doubt it, that that is the PNM style. The NAR style is to bring the country together as we did in 1986, and the signal we are getting is that we will do it again,” he added, saying the party, which held the reins of power under Robinson, was gearing up for next year’s general elections. As they did then, opposing political parties must unite to defeat the PNM, which Williams founded.

Charles beleived more attention should be paid to young people “and not do like the PNM and bring down blimps and overseas police to help.”

He felt the education system “was developing a generation of young people who do not want to be in school as they all have social problems.” He said he was not sure that the history of the country was being taught and advised that soon “the children in our schools would not even know of Panday, who played a significant role in the country in the recent past.”

Panday, who led the UNC government between 1995 and 2001, last week resigned as the party’s chairman after his conviction and sentence to two years in jail for failing to declare two London bank accounts. He has appealed and is out on $300,000 bail.