Dookeran promises good, accountable government

Winston Dookeran endorsed Kamla Persad Bissessar Sunday as the country's prime minister in waiting as he delivered a powerful call to the nation to rise up and change the government.

The leader of the Congress of the People (COP) was speaking at Mid Centre Mall, Chaguanas at a People's Partnership rally to introduce the 41 opposition candidates for the May 24 general election.

The venue is a historic one for both Dookeran and Persad-Bissessar as the site where both of them faced humiliation in the past. And on Sunday it was the location where both of them stood firm as future leaders of government.

The People's Partnership is a coalition of the COP, the United National Congress (UNC), the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), The National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) and the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ).

Dookeran praised the collective leadership for ending the divisions that have characterised Trinidad and Tobago politics for generations and stated that the Manning government had collapsed because of "malice, divisiveness and incompetence".

He said never in the past 40 years have the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago been so "exploited, vulnerable and alone" and he pledged that the new politics of the People's Partnership would free them.

Dookeran said the coalition is premised on three principles:

• Good accountable government versus corrupt, incompetent leadership
• A choice between enduring a Prime Minister's and state support for corruption versus clean, transparent government
• A rejection of an obsession with the symbols of development for the embracing of a real development process

He said this is a break from the past and a response to the wishes of the people. And he praised his party for making this happen. He also saluted the UNC leader for her vision, her conviction and for making the unity accord work.

"This is the start of the new Trinidad and Tobago" he promised, adding that the partnership will give the country "a government that can work, that is stable and that unites the people."

In expressing confidence that the opposition will win the election, Dookeran said the challenges in the weeks ahead will be to "construct a cabinet and a Senate that would create radical reform for good governance and unity of our people."

He said the presence of tens of thousands at the rally is a clear signal that "the voice of the people will guide us." That is why the new government's mission would be protect the future, he said.

The COP leader pledged a $3,000 a month pension to seniors and the retention of the government financial assistance program - GATE - for students wishing to pursue higher education. He also pledged to remove crime and create a safe society again and rescue the economy, which he said remains at risk because of criminal activity.

He slammed the Manning administration for its high handedness and its disdain for the people, criticising it for using state power to hound out a Chief Justice and to protect those who are a threat to democracy.

Dookeran saved some of his time to attack PNM candidate for Diego Martin West, Dr Keith Rowley, suggesting that it is hypocritical for Rowley and Manning to now stand on a platform seeking a mandate from the people.

The COP leader said the victory of the People's Partnership will herald a new governing structure for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean because its members represent the best that the country has to offer.