Ian Alleyne: I sacrifice family life to serve

His revelation came at a UNC rally last Monday at Aranjuez Community Centre, Mahelal Road, Aranjuez, where he publicly introduced his young son, Ian Junior.

He said because of his fight against crime, his family has had to go into hiding. “That’s the price I’ve paid,” said Alleyne. “Ask Om Lalla what price he has paid. When you don’t have your family next to you, and you sacrifice everything for the country — very few people will do that.”

At one stage in his speech, Alleyne removed his spectacles and seemingly wiped a tear from his eye. He said that while others talk about giving service to the poor and downtrodden, he has actually lived it. Posing a question to an absent Lalla, once his friend, lawyer and legal adviser for the show, Alleyne said, “Did you sacrifice the safety of your family?”

He said many people are behind bars or awaiting trial because of Ian Alleyne and Crime Watch. Saying he was not born into a wealthy home, he said he has worked hard for what he achieved.

Telling listeners, “I am one of you”, he recalled taking his ill grandmother to hospital without having a car, and of himself as a young man working in a gas station and at odd-jobs such as washing cars. He asked people to elect him so he could make St Joseph into a bit of heaven.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had earlier introduced Alleyne.

“Ian and I had a chance to speak on Sunday and in our conversation, I was able to see a side of him that reinforced my belief that as an MP, he is the one who can best represent the constituency of St Joseph,” she said. “The side of him that I saw was someone deeply committed to preserving the sanctity and safety of families.” She also saw Alleyne as a young man with an aggressive passion to stand against corruption in all forms and to fight for justice on the side of the people.

“I saw a man who has quietly observed, learned and understood the needs of your community, and has already worked out in his mind the simple ways that he can make St Joseph a much better place to live, to work and to succeed,” said Persad-Bissessar.

She said the passion of Alleyne’s words and the fight in his voice showed that his goal as MP will be to fight for better and safer lives for local families and communities. She said Alleyne brings fresh ideas to ensure that people’s needs will always trump politics.

“My friends, you know Ian as a fearless fighter who has always stood on the people’s side,” she said. “Today, I present to you a gentleman who now wants to bring this fight and fearlessness to national representation in his bid to make your lives better. I believe in Ian as a man who will represent you all, equally, with compassion and with more focus on your needs than politics.”