By Sue-Ann Wayow

ANY candidate of the United National Congress (UNC)-led Coalition of Interests who does not serve the people of Trinidad and Tobago, would be removed.

UNC’s political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar gave this stern warning to the candidates during the party’s presentation of General Election candidates on Friday.

Addressing a massive crowd at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Persad-Bissessar stressed the importance of service to the people.

She said, “Many times, I have seen people become overly attached to the trappings of office. I want to make it clear. Anyone, I repeat and I mean anyone, who does not serve the people but who suffers the people around them will be removed from office. To our candidates I say,  you must love and care for the citizens every day, all day.”

Persad-Bissessar told the candidates, some of whom are new to politics that they were given an opportunity by the party’s membership to be at the top and they must take care of the people.

“Remember always: Serve the people! Serve the people! Serve the people!” she declared.

Persad-Bissessar continued, “You see, more than a party, the UNC embodies a spirit of resistance, a spirit of freedom. You candidates must understand our history of struggle and service.”

Candidates have been chosen very strategically in order  to better serve the people the political leader said.

On Friday, the UNC fielded 34 candidates to contest the General Election on April 28. Alongside the UNC, the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) filed three and the Congress of the People (COP) – two.

She read a few excerpts from a book titled “The Greatest Salesman in the World” emphasising on love.

Persad-Bissessar said she has seen the UNC grow into a great party a great pillar of tenacity and strength to Trinidad and Tobago and thanked everyone, member and supporter.

Referring to herself, she said, “I have always lived my life to show every person love and care. Admittedly, at times, I may have fallen short, as all humans do. I love and care deeply about the happiness and well-being of everyone in our country. UNC supporters, PNM supporters, my harshest critics, my fiercest supporters and everyone in between, I only have a love for you all.”

Persad-Bissessar said she will remain responsible for her own actions while others should take up responsibility for theirs.

The UNC leader said under her leadership, the party has been purged from the politics of caste, class, nepotism, family connections, segregation, discrimination and dynasty.

“This realignment of the UNC was not easy; it took me about 15 years to transform the UNC from a one-man show and hereditary aristocracy into a meritocracy,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar added, “Nepotism has been purged from the UNC.

She maintained that the People’s National Movement (PNM) government continuously misleads citizens and will send the country into further destruction if allowed to remain in government.

Persad-Bissessar asked the electorate to be reminded of the back breaking hard work of their older parents and grandparents to ensure a better future for their children, an effort that should not be in vain.

Persad-Bissessar said Prime Minister Stuart Young promises of more food cards was just “political gimmickry”.

She said, “Stuart said he went to the grocery store, he now realizes that food prices have gone sky-high. He is so out of touch with the struggles of real people that they face in their daily lives. He is out of touch, you know why? Because he never had to live one day in your shoes.”

Persad-Bissessar further asked, “ Do you think he really loses a second of sleep thinking about how he can help you?”

She said the PNM wasted $17 billion on court cases, projects, audits, paintings, phone calls, vehicles and others  which was why they could not afford to pay workers their monies owed.

Persad-Bissessar  again listed out her accomplishments when she was Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015 saying that the UNC had a clear and comprehensive vision for the country’s future.

And in closing her address the political leader encouraged voters, “Let’s take a bold step for the future. The time is now to make that bold step to join us on the journey. If you have not yet come on board, the change you are looking for will not come from sitting down and doing nothing.”

Persad-Bissessar said, “The change you want to see requires action on your part. If you give UNC and our coalition partners your vote on April 28th, I guarantee you, you can look forward to a much brighter future because when UNC wins, everybody wins.”

She also encouraged everyone to take the day off from work on April 28th  to go out and cast their ballots for her party.

“I will make a bold statement here. On Election Day, do not go to work. I don’t want you to get caught up in traffic jam. I want you to stay home. Sacrifice one day to secure your future for the next five years. Stay home and go out and vote out the PNM on April 28th,” Persad-Bissessar urged.