McLeod walks away from MSJ

File: Errol McLeod with PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Labour Errol McLeod told the media on Wednesday he has cut ties with the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ). However he did not say where his political affiliation lies.

McLeod was the leader of the MSJ when he signed on to the Fyzabad Declaration, committing the group to the people's partnership. The MSJ at the time was a social activist group, not a political party. He resigned shortly after the MSJ announced that it had decided to become a political party.

His successor, David Abdulah, under pressure from the Oilfield workers' Trade Union and other unions, pulled out of the partnership and resigned as a government senator. He said McLeod continued to be a member of the MSJ.

However the labour minister made it clear at that time that he would remain independent and promised a statement at a later date.

Speaking to reporters following the launch of the Labour Ministry's trade and business exposition at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya McLeod made no comment about the MSJ. However, he made it clear that he remains faithful to the Prime Minister, which is why he chose to remain in the Cabinet.

McLeod said, "On the 22nd of January I stopped speaking for the MSJ and the MSJ, I hope, has stopped speaking for me, I will answer no question about the MSJ".

He did not give any indication of his political affiliation except to say, "my political affiliation is what we are doing here for Trinidad and Tobago", noting that the "Parliament is supposed to be representative of what we are doing here."

McLeod was elected as the MP for Pointe-a-Pierre as a candidate of the United National Congress (UNC), which means that legally he is considered a member of the UNC and his leader is Kamla Persad-Bissessar. 

He was previously elected to Parliament as a candidate for the predecessor movement of the the UNC, the United Labour Front (ULF), led by Basdeo Panday. In the 1976 general election he won the Oropouche seat for the ULF.