Ian Alleyne drops in at PP meeting to "settle score" with Jack

Ian Alleyne at the PP's political meeting in San Fernando Monday
(Montage courtesy UNC)

Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne dropped in on Monday's People's Partnership (PP) political meeting at Harris Promenade, San Fernando and called Jack Warner a liar. The popular television host had stated earlier on his show on CNC3 television that he was going to 'storm' the meeting.

During the meeting to launch the PP's Local Government Election campaign and introduce candidates co-chair for the event, Anil Roberts, spotted Alleyne in the audience and invited him to join him on stage.

Alleyne obliged to the delight of the crowd, shooks hands with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and then took to the lectern where he delivered a brief address in which he offered to work with the government to fight crime.But before he got to that he said he had come to the meeting to settle a score with the leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP). 

Last week Warner told a public meeting in Point Fortin that Attorney General Anand Ramlogan had telephoned Alleyne to ask him to be the United National Congress (UNC) candidate for the St Joseph byelection. Warner claimed that the AG handed the PM the phone to talk with Alleyne. 

However Alleyne denied that and at a meeting last week both Ramlogan and the PM said no such conversation took place. Ramlogan pointed out that Warner's version of events would have been an impossibility since Persad-Bissessar was in the United States at the time when the call was allegedly made.

On Monday night Alleyne took on Warner and stated again that no such conversation took place. he said the last time he spoke with the PM was "sometime in 2011" and that he spoke withbthe AG a few weeks ago. Alleyne said because of the nature of his work he speaks with the AG from time to time about matters relaing to crime. But he was emphastic that the alleged conversation and piolitical offer did not happen.

Alleyne stated that he was not there as a member of a party and that he was speaking as a citizen concerned about fighting crime. Alleyne said crime is a national problem and it's everybody's business to do something about it. He said it was not a matter of politics.

With respect to politics, he said it might be difficult for anyone to entice him with money to get into polics. "They cannot afford me," he said.

After settling his core with the ILP leader, Alleyne stated that he has a lot of experience dealing with crime and that his Crime Watch organisation could asssit in the fight against crime. He offered to help, saying he has information and the government has the resources.

Later, in her address at the meeting, Persad-Bissessar said her government would be happy to work with Alleyne or anyone else whio is interested in fighting crime. She gave no hint about whether she is considering Alleyne as a political ally. 

JYOTI asked a political insider if the whole event was staged as part of the evening's programme. The person said it was not.