People's partnership pulls coup on PNM, gets Sugar Aloes on stage to dance with PM. No big thing says PNM

Sugar Aloes dancing on a People's Partnership stage Thursday night

The thousands who crammed into the car park of the Mid Centre Mall in Chaguanas Thursday night for the second anniversary People's Partnership rally got an unexpected treat from Michael Anthony Osuana, better known in the entertainment world as Sugar Aloes, who appeared on stage with the People's Partnership.

"Who would have expected that?" remarked chairman of the evening's proceedings, Hansly Ajodha.

Sugar Aloes has been a strong supporter of the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) and many of his calypsos have been against the United National Congress (UNC).

But he was singing a different tune and dancing to another beat on Thursday night. The surprise guest on the show sang the Prime Minister’s praises: “She is a queen, she is so royal.”

He danced with her as she waved a UNC flag. And Ministers Winston “Gypsy” Peters and Jack Warner danced the former Calypso Monarch, celebrating a "sweet" coup that has no doubt left the PNM wondering what happened.


However the PNM didn't think there was anything about it that should be cause for concern. Deputy leader Marlene McDonald told the Guardian it was no big thing.

“I don’t think we should make any heavy weather about it. He went there as a professional entertainer, and I take it for what it is,” Mc Donald added.

“He was invited, he must have been paid and I am not going to ascribe anything else to it.” She said she did not see the performance as any indication of Aloes’ discontinuation of his support for the PNM “and I have no qualms in saying this, none.” McDonald said that was no indication of the PNM losing key supporters.

UNC Deputy leader Roodal Moonilal told the paper don't be surprised if you see Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins, also a staunch PNM supporter) or PNM Senator Fitzgerald Hinds on a PP platform.

He said he was “extremely pleased that he got an electrifying welcome.” The paper said Moonilal chuckled when he made the comment about Cro Cro and Hinds.

“Nothing would surprise me in politics. This morning people were calling and asking if Cro Cro would be next and I told them maybe Fitzgerald Hinds may appear on a People’s Partnership platform. Anything can happen in politics,” the paper quoted him as saying.