UNITED National Congress (UNC) Political Leader Winston Dookeran hopes to restore the faith and trust in politicians as he embarks on a series of walkabouts in various constituencies.

And even though self-declared “Independent” UNC MP for Barataria/San Juan, Dr. Fuad Khan, ducked out of last Friday’s procession in his constituency, folks were told he was eager to attend, but had prior engagements.

Constituency Chairman, Ansil Morris, however, was very much present walking at Dookeran’s side throughout the walkabout.

At a scantily attended cottage meeting held at Fifth Street, Barataria, following the walkabout, Dookeran said that people have lost the fundamental value of life itself, that is, respect.

WINSTON DOOKERAN
greets a little boy during
a walkabout in the
Barataria/San Juan
Constituency last
Friday.

“What has been happening in the past four years is that life has no value in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

St. Augustine MP Dookeran made a solemn declaration of “truth and trust” that he would not become like all the other politicians in the nation.

He called for the division of race to be stopped and said there should be the equality of all people.

“This is the concept of new politics. Let us give up all that has imprisoned us and go forward,” he told the audience.

In probably one of his most profound statements Dookeran said: “I am not in this business to remove the People’s National Movement (PNM). “I am in this business to build a better country, but in order to do so I must remove the PNM.”

He questioned the motive of Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s trip to Israel which preceded his attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, saying that no one was told for what purpose he was going there.

Dookeran said the government must be accountable everyday to everyone.

Gesticulating wildly, he stated that there should be people in government who have knowledge that can be applicable in positively changing the society.

Commenting on the absence of MP Fuad Khan the UNC leader said: “Even though he could not be here, he has put all in place for a proper welcome.”

Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran, another speaker at the cottage meeting said that he would like to see all the members of UNC united once again, which brought on a huge round of applause from party supporters.

“I want to see Dookeran working with Panday.

“I want to see Ramesh Lawarence Maharaj working with Dookeran.

“I want to see Fuad Khan working with Dookeran.

“I want to see Gillian Lucky working with him also.”

Senator Carolyn Seepersad Bachan called for party unity, saying that when party comes together it must come on a strong footing that will never allow it to divide again.

She said what was lacking in the party at the time was “mediation mechanisms with resolutions”.

Jamal Mohammed, brother of ex-PNM candidate for Barataria/San Juan, Nafeeza Mohammed, was also in attendance to lend his support at Dookeran’s walkabout.