By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE United National Congress (UNC) virtual rally on Sunday dubbed the “People’s Revolution Rally” was a revolution against geographical discrimination, the high cost of food, the property tax, unemployment as well as attacks on freedoms and constitutional rights.
And it was a revolution against Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his government, declared Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
In delivering the main address, she said, Trinidad and Tobago was experiencing the darkest hours in the country’s history.
With the major defeat at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) general election on December 6, she said there was hope that the PNM can be overthrown.
“The election results of Monday were a historic turning point in the political history of Trinidad and Tobago. It was brought about by Tobago’s profound rejection of Keith Rowley’s dictatorship, bullying, greed and incompetence. The earthquake that just broke in Charlottesville will be felt in St Joseph, San Fernando West, Diego Martin and Point Fortin soon enough,” she said.
She again called for an election in the local government district of Debe South that has been without a local government representative for several months.
Persad-Bissesar said the issue of the Prime Minister’s purchase of a townhouse at Inez Gate Development in Tobago in addition to another issue that raises a red flag of money laundering which must attract the full attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions and police.
“We will ensure that the matter be referred for a full and complete investigation,” she said.
How many more must die?
Persad-Bissessar said given the severe Covid situation in the country, the rally had to be virtual to avoid congregation.
She encouraged vaccination against the deadly disease while lambasting the Government’s handling of the pandemic.
The Opposition Leader complained of the inability of the health team to have effective measures in place to combat Covid-19.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is now the worst it has ever been. How on earth can they continue to say they did a good job?” she asked.
Persad-Bissessar said, “When I first called for this failed team to be removed we were around 200 deaths. And that was just a few months ago. Today, only a few months later, we have well over 2,000 deaths and over 79,000 positive cases.”
The call was made again for a Commission of Inquiry into the management of the pandemic.
Doctors and lawyers driving taxis.
Persad-Bissessar said the negative effect of Covid-19 has already caused thousands to lose jobs with some having to resort to much lower income levels.
She said, “This unemployment and lack of income is affecting everybody, even the most highly educated and qualified. We have doctors and lawyers driving taxis unable to get a job. We have returning scholarship winners unable to get a job. University graduates working in retail stores. For skilled and unskilled labour, there is massive competition even for the lowest-paid jobs because of mass unemployment.”
Tears for the murdered
The opposition leader said she broke down in tears viewing a picture of a little girl dancing in front of her father’s coffin, prison officer Nigel Jones who had been murdered.
Persad-Bissessar said, “When I saw that image I broke down in tears. As a mother and grandmother, I started crying for that little girl and her family. My heart and prayers go out to that family and all the families of violent crimes in our land.
“But after crying for a while, I got angry. I remembered how when a minister’s son’s phone was stolen, the government shut down the entire country trying to get it back. I remembered when somebody stole the prime minister’s fowl at his farm in Tobago, the whole Port-of-Spain CID went to Tobago to catch a fowl thief.”
To the Prime Minister she said, “Dictator Rowley, I want to say this. God don’t sleep. Mark my words: that little girl will get justice and the people of this country will get justice. The People’s Revolution will see about that.”
Inspiration from Jesus’s birth
And she asked citizens to draw inspiration from the birth of Jesus especially the Christmas season and not to lose faith.
Again referring to Tobago Persad-Bissessar said, “Take a lesson from those on our sister isle. Even though they had to endure the brutal oppression of the PNM for so long, they banded together and got their ray of light through the darkness. Judgment may be delayed, but it is never denied.”
