By Faith Edwards
AFTER nine years of attempting to support positive change in the United National Congress (UNC), the party is now hopeless, says former member Larry Lalla.
Labelling the party as “a failed party, ” Lalla, spoke for the first time on a People’s National Movement (PNM) platform on Saturday night since resigning from the UNC in February.
In a speech that lasted almost 45 minutes, Lalla told PNM supporters at the Exodus Pan Yard in Tunapuna, “Lalla didn’t just roll off his bed one morning and decided he was going to jump ship and support the PNM.”
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Lalla said this decision was made due to the culmination of years spent trying to transform the UNC into a more effective and appealing version of itself.
“Having given nine years of my life to attempting to get that party to change, I can safely say with a clear conscience, they hopeless,” he told the crowd.
Lalla asked, “Why should I remain politically kidnapped and voiceless in a failed party with a failed leader because of race?”
He added, “Well I am sorry for those who think so because I don’t intend to do so.”
Lalla, clad in a PNM red Polo shirt, heavily criticised his former political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her style of leadership and the candidates chosen to represent the UNC Coalition of Interests.
Lalla said, “There is no way you can be satisfied that entity called the UNC and that pickup side of degenerates that Persad-Bissessar has put together can be trusted to run your affairs for the next five years.”
Referring to former UNC members of parliament Rushton Paray and Anita Haynes, who Lalla supported, he said Persad-Bissessar removed solid persons and picked those loyal to her “so that when she loses, she can remain as opposition leader till death.”
He appealed to voters, “Well I plead with you to grant her, her wish and make her the opposition leader on April 28.”
Lalla advised voters, “Do not take chain up.”
The attorney also said that his back was strong enough to withstand any criticisms from the party especially from Anil Roberts.
Lalla was seen on Nomination Day openly supporting PNM candidates Richie Sookhai and Faris Al-Rawi and has become a regular attendee at PNM public meetings.
PNM’ former political leader Dr Keith Rowley also attended the meeting in Tunapuna.
