Jack slams Manning's racism, appeals to voters to win election "for Kamla"

Jack Warner told tens of thousands supporters of the People's Alliance Saturday the journey of unity that has resulted in the mass support for the coalition did not begin with Kamla Persad-Bissessar or Makandal Daaga.

In a brief but passionate speech at the closing rally for the May 24 general election, the UNC chairman said, "Our journey to this day goes back more than 70 years to the transformational achievements of Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler and his Indian Brother Adrian Cola Rienzi."

And he noted that history shows that "whenever Afro-Trinidadians and Indo-Trinidadians have united in the struggle for social justice in independent Trinidad and Tobago, the PNM has used state power to break us up. Whenever PNM leaders have faced defeat, they have reverted to race."

He spoke of the federal election of 1958 when Eric Williams, which Eric Williams lost and blamed it on "a recalcitrant" minority of Indians.

And he noted that Patrick Manning went a similar path in Tunapuna on Thursday night. "Facing defeat with his renegade priest on the platform beside him, the Prime Minister of this country leveled the most offensive and divisive insult to forty-eight percent of the population.

"He listed the names of Indo-Trinidadian members of a previous administration who have been prosecuted; though not one of them has been successfully convicted, to date.

"The PNM leader then went on to say to Indo-Trinidadians in the national community, that as they were all shamed in the past, they would again be shamed if they elected the People’s Partnership to government on Monday.

"Mr. Manning did not stop there. He followed that racial broadside by saying that our Indian community had to thank the PNM for the success of members of the Indian community in this country."

Warner said, "Patrick Manning is too great a danger to this nation to ever again hold public office. Manning’s theme song, “The PNM will take good care of you” is a nakedly tribal message.

"It is also extremely offensive in its paternalism. Manning’s core campaign message is a straight case of plantation language."

He pleaded with the national community not to vote for Manning and the PNM. "You do not want to vote yourselves back onto Patrick Manning’s plantation."

He added, "Brothers and Sisters, the victory of the People’s Partnership on Monday will not be the end of the journey that has brought us to today; Monday will only be the end of the beginning."

And he warned of a difficult road ahead before victory is won. "There will be many challenges between now and Monday night. There will be many signs to remind the nation that we must vote for change on Monday."

The UNC chairman also spoke of an unfortunate incident when “Dr Choonkie Ting”, the comedian, sustained serious injuries when he slipped and fell into the orchestra pit during a rehearsal on May 5 on the stage of the main auditorium of the $500 million National Academy for the Performing Arts.

And the lamented the dismissal of 543 teachers from schools across the nation courtesy of education minister "Esther Le Gendre, the PNM candidate for Tunapuna."

He said, "those teachers were fired without cause in the same week in which Patrick Manning’s Cabinet approved that mysterious $700 million WASA contract with a foreign firm."

He explained that "These are continuing signs that it is our karma and our dharma to bring compassion to governance of our country, starting Tuesday.

"Brothers and Sisters, we have come this far on the road to unity, justice and compassion in our nation essentially because of Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s vision, commitment, courage and unwavering and inspiring leadership.

"Over the last few months, Kamla’s amazing grace, her unwavering strength and her manifest love for all the people of Trinidad and Tobago, have won countless hearts across our nation; and across our sister Caribbean nations, as well.

"The eyes of children and young people, and those of our elders, when they look at Kamla are magic images that many of us will carry with us for the rest of our lives," Warner said.

Warner said in his lifetime he has the privilege of dealing with leaders of industry and commerce, and with Monarchs and Presidents and Prime Ministers around the world.

However, "Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in my estimation, stands tall among them all. I am proud to follow Kamla as my leader, and as my country’s next Prime Minister."

And he urged voters to win the election on Monday for Kamla. "Let us us give our nation the rebirth and renewal that is Kamla’s vision."

He thanked all who have worked in the background to make the revolution happen and "offered prayers in support of the people’s crusade".

And he thanked the media "for being effective watchdogs of our democracy."