Kamla Persad-Bissessar returned to Mid Centre Mall on Sunday to proclaim that she has become the woman that her supporters wanted her to be. It was at that same site in 2007 she stood and pledged loyalty to her party - the United National Congress (UNC) - after the leadership rejected her as the person to lead the UNC alliance in the general election. She stood firm and remained loyal to her party and its leaders.
On Sunday she was back as the legitimate leader of the party. And she praised the UNC founder and former leader Basdeo Panday for "taking us this far" as she announced that the People's Partnership is ready to rise and take power from Patrick Manning.
In a lengthy address full of emotion and packed with campaign promises, Persad-Bissessar began with praises for Winston Dookeran, the leader of the Congress of the People (COP) and other members of the coalition that comprises the partnership.
She said it is a privilege and honour to know Dookeran whom she described as a teacher and brother. She said she was deeply humbled by the support from the COP leader. "Trinidad and Tobago would be a different place without you" she said adding that "it will now be a better place because of you."
Persad Bissessar announced that the team that she leads will form the government that will rescue Trinidad and Tobago.
"Today the dream of our forefathers and foremothers to create a land that is prosperous for all, a land where every child and every single person is afforded equality, safety and judged, not by the colour of his or her skin or the texture of his or her hair, but by the content of his or her character, today, that country, that land is just within our grasp," she said.
She promised to create a better country, "a better future for your children and a better destiny for us all.
"We will rise out of the oppression and tyranny of the Patrick Manning regime and we will rise out of the killing fields he has turned our beloved country into.
"We will rise because of our great love for our country and for each other...we rise to fight for truth, integrity and justice to prevail," she declared.
The UNC leader expressed great pride in the achievements of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago in every field at home and internationally from sports icons to business leaders and Nobel laureates like V.S. Naipaul and Derek Walcott. She singled out the late journalist George John and took the opportunity to demand that Manning "leave the media alone" to do their jobs freely.
She spoke about the task of the government she will lead noting that its first priority will be to stabilize the economy, to rebuild the society and to restore trust in government.
"My immediate task will be to introduce greater transparency and accountability in government and to ensure that our oil and gas wealth is truly used for the development of our nation and our people," she pledged.
She said the Peoples’ Partnership has agreed on a clear and coherent policy position which will be published in its election manifesto. She said the policy is based on sustainable development and on core values of integrity and professionalism.
Persad Bissessar outlined seven core pillars on which a People's Partnership government will operate:
- People-Centred Development
- Poverty Eradication and Social Justice, with preference for the poor and disadvantaged
- Information and Communication Technologies, which are fundamental to the development of every modern, progressive society
- A more Diversified, knowledge intensive economy that will build on the native genius of the people
- National and Personal Security
- Good Governance with people participation
- Foreign Policy based on securing T&T's place in the World
"Let us build a brighter future for our children. I need your help, I need your support as I need the support of my brothers and sisters on the platform...I will not let you down...We will not let you down," she said.
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