A citizen who became a hostage with politicians during the failed 1990 Muslimeen coup has told the enquiry into the uprising that both the People's National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC) used the services of the Jamaat al Muslimeen to gain control of the marginal seats.
The accusation came Thursday from Wendell Eversley, who said he witnessed the UNC using the Muslimeen in the 2000 general election in marginal constituency of Tunapuna and in St Joseph.
He also said the group's leader, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, was present at PNM headquarters at Balisier House on the night of one of its election victories, noting that Bakr appeared to be jubilant. He added that both parties rewarded Muslimeen members by giving them positions in government.
He reminded the commissioner that former prime ministers Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday refused to order an inquiry into the coup stating that there was nothing to be gained from it.
The People's Partnership government announced the probe in July last year in keeping with a promise it made during the general election campaign by Congress of the People leader Winston Dookeran and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The accusation came Thursday from Wendell Eversley, who said he witnessed the UNC using the Muslimeen in the 2000 general election in marginal constituency of Tunapuna and in St Joseph.
He also said the group's leader, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, was present at PNM headquarters at Balisier House on the night of one of its election victories, noting that Bakr appeared to be jubilant. He added that both parties rewarded Muslimeen members by giving them positions in government.
He reminded the commissioner that former prime ministers Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday refused to order an inquiry into the coup stating that there was nothing to be gained from it.
The People's Partnership government announced the probe in July last year in keeping with a promise it made during the general election campaign by Congress of the People leader Winston Dookeran and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
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