POLITICAL Leader of the Democratic Party of T&T (DPTT), Steve Alvarez came out in stinging form on Monday night in Arima, when he chastised his detractors telling them that no time in the history of our nation has it been more important to unite than now.

Alvarez made his debut speech among hundreds, since the alliance with the United National Congress (UNC) a week ago.

 

Steve Alvarez

He asked: “When we hear statements like we going it alone and unity is a joke we must ask ourselves who is benefiting from such statements?”

Alvarez said members of the UNC Alliance recognised the importance of good leadership, but that they do not wish to “saddle” the nation with a maximum leader.

“Thus the leadership council. This group of leaders is the way forward for Trinidad and Tobago and therefore, whoever emerges as the leader of the Alliance will not be a maximum leader with absolute power.

“That, my fellow citizens, is the new politics.”

Later on, Political Leader of the UNC, Basdeo Panday relayed to supporters that the function of the Leadership Council is to guide the Alliance to victory.

He said that is why the alliance had set up a Manifesto Committee under Dr. Carson Charles, Roodal Moonilal and Christine Hosein, with Carson as Chairman.

Panday said the council’s next task would be to invite those groups, which are not yet in the unity movement and then start screening candidates for the 41 seats so that the UNC Alliance is ready for an election when it is called.

Meanwhile, Alvarez who received a warm welcome in Arima said that he decided to join the alliance after scrutinising the crime situation in the country, poverty, the social breakdown, useless investments and corruption perpetrated upon the people by the People’s National Movement (PNM).

Alvarez said one of the greatest sins of the PNM was the closure of Caroni Limited, without a plan to utilise the land for agriculture.

“As a nation we must seek to become less dependant on foreign food.“We can start the process together at the next election,” he said.

“History has taught us that unless we unite, the PNM will win the next election. “Since this is so, it is no surprise to me that there are people out there who are against unity.”

In closing, the DPTT leader said he was certain that there were people hoping that the Congress of the People (COP) will divide the opposition votes and guarantee not only a PNM victory but perhaps a 2/3 majority.

He said: “I wish to let them know tonight that it is very likely that things will backfire and they will split the PNM votes and not only ensure an Alliance victory but a 2/3 majority.”