Ali: I’m ready to serve

The matter was decided by the High Court virtually on the eve of the November 28 local government election which ruled that 28-year-old Adrian Ali could contest the election as the candidate for the United National Congress (UNC). Ali eventually won the district by an overwhelming margin securing 3,114 votes as compared to the PNM which secured 288 votes while the ILP received 111 votes.

For the new councillor- elect, the experience did not sway him from his chosen path but only served to make him tougher, a trait engrained into him from an early age when, at the age of four, his parents separated and he was sent to live with his paternal grandparents.

It is his grandmother, Jaitoon Ali, 77, whom he credits for nurturing his determination and stamina to achieve his goals.

“All my life, my grandmother was in charge of sending me to school, primary school, Charlieville ASJA Primary School and ASJA Boys’ College, Charlieville,” he told Sunday Newsday during an interview at the home of a supporter at Marchin Road, Charlieville.

“I went to San Fernando Technical Institute after CSEC examinations and studied process plant operation, and worked at a construction company for six months and after realising that I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life, I decided to go and do CAPE.

I did CAPE at ASJA Girls’ College in Charlieville.

I was one of the four boys they selected for the CAPE there and that was the first and last time that boys were taken in at ASJA Girls’ College,” he said with a laugh as he reminisced about his younger days.

He studied geography, maths, and biology at CAPE.

“I got support from both grandparents and after my grandfather died, whilst I was doing CAPE, a good friend lent me some money to buy a car.

“I bought a Sunny, paid $10,000 for it and I used to work taxi while in CAPE so that took the strain off my grandmother,” he said.

Asked whether his grandmother supported him in politics, Ali said, “yes, she like she politics and was so happy to see her grandson get into politics with all the drama that was going on, she would say ‘stay strong’ and she make plenty ‘dua’ (prayers) for me.” Ali enrolled in UWI where he pursued a double major in geography and environmental and resources management where life also took an unexpected turn as he got married in 2009 to Khadijah, 27, whom he met while studying for the CAPE examinations at ASJA Girls’ College.

“My wife has supported me and is supporting me all now, she has sacrificed a lot for the past two months,” he said.

Ali and his wife have a son, Aayan, who will turn one in January.

“They have sacrificed so much for me even before the politics with cricket so it is a lot,” he said. Ali, a wicket-keeper/ batsman, was captain of UWI cricket team and played two inter-campus tournaments, winning a T20 tournament in Barbados during his tenure.

And it was while at UWI that he signed up with the Teaching Service Commission and, after graduation, returned to ASJA Boys’ College in 2015 where he taught Geography and Social Studies. He also taught at Point Fortin East Secondary in 2016.

Asked why he made the move from teacher to politician, Ali said, “even before thinking about getting into politics I used to be involved in the community, especially this community.

“I am known for hosting community cricket tournaments and Eid, Divali and Christmas programmes.

“In order to make a bigger difference in the community you have to be in a position where you are able to make that difference and that was the reason for joining the politics.” “As a councillor, you have to make a difference because if you don’t and go back to the people after three years, they going to run you for sure, the major complaint from people is make sure this in not the last time we going and see you, if you know you can’t even do something in the area then don’t run for councillor,” he said.

Asked how he felt about the ILP case, he said, “It was not expected because I have known Simeon (Mahabir, ILP candidate) for a long time. We both went to the same primary school.” And about his plans for the district, he said the construction of a community centre was needed as well as programmes to encourage entrepreneurship in the present economic climate.

He said sporting activities as well as infrastructural upgrade and the creation of a neighbourhood watch group as a deterrent to criminal activity also need to be dealt with.

Asked where he got his motivation, he thought for a while before responding, “I would say I get my motivation from my grandmother because she does everything for me.” “You need to set yourself goals and you need to work towards achieving the goals, not everyone is born with a golden spoon, so whatever you want you have to try and work as hard as possible for it and hard work always pays off.

That is what I know for sure.”