Dookeran thanks Partnership leaders for making T&T smile again

The leader of the Congress of the People (COP), Winston Dookeran, has praised Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other members of the People's Partnership, which formed the government in Trinidad and Tobago following the May 24 general election.

"I want to say that our honourable Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, deserves the highest praise from this nation and this country for bringing together such a formidable team and I am delighted to be working in her Cabinet," the finance minister said.

He was speaking Wednesday night at an appreciation ceremony at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, at which he thanked everyone who worked with the COP during the election campaign.

And he paid tribute to coalition leaders of the People’s Partnership. He said since the election the mood of the country has been upbeat.

"Since the election I have never seen a society smiling so much, and for a politician this is a rather rare situation because we always meet angry people ready to want something. Now we are meeting smiling people ready to give something,"

Dookeran said. "The People’s Partnership has almost been a dream within our hearts and minds for many, many years. The fact that it has come together in such a snap way, to snatch a snap victory, is a time of tremendous celebration and appreciation for all the people of Trinidad and Tobago who know we can create the impossible and make it possible."

Dookeran thanked all COP loyalists and said it is their "moment of joy" and happiness, noting that without their dedication and help the party would have "withered away".

Dookeran said politics in Trinidad and Tobago will never be the same again and directed some of his remarks to the youth of the nation.

"To all the young people who are here who have sought and received parliamentary office, I say to all of us, let us not squander this opportunity, let us work as we have never worked before, let us do all that is necessary so that never again would our country be able to witness a political leader that has kept us imprisoned. Now is a time for a new liberation, a new freedom," he said.