By Sue-Ann Wayow

FORMER Attorney General under the People’s National Movement (PNM) government John Jeremie, SC, is encouraging citizens to vote for change and vote for the United National Congress (UNC) on April 28.

As a man who fought against the UNC in the parliament, born into the PNM party, he said, to say Trinidad and Tobago was in crisis was an understatement.

Jeremie was a surprise speaker on Monday night at a Siparia campaign meeting in which UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was the feature speaker.

He started his brief statement by saying, “Let’s face it: I am the last man you would expect to see here tonight.”

Jeremie also said, “I have fought bitter battles in the Parliament against many who are seated here tonight.  I understand that it is frowned upon to change sides in our culture.  I am fully aware of how I can be harmed for where I stand tonight, and I  gain nothing.”

He gave a bit of his personal history and his early involvement in politics since his mother worked for the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Eric Williams.

At university, he became a member of the PNM and years later, admitted that he served the PNM loyally in the parliament.

However, on Monday night at Bhupsingh Park in Penal, he said he was speaking to the crowd as a patriot and “outside of the PNM.” Also in the crowd were former PNM minister Kennedy Swaratsingh and Professor Selwyn Cudjoe.

“For me, it has always been country first. That is why, I took up battle against corruption because corruption robs the young and the unborn,” Jeremie said.

He also said he has known Persad-Bissessar for some time since she taught him  English Language at the University of the West Indies more than 30 years ago.

When she began studying law at the Cave Hill campus, she was pregnant and sometimes missed lectures notes which he was happy to lend her, he recalled.

Jeremie said, “She went on to finish top of her class at the University of the West Indies. Years later, we found ourselves on opposing sides, but both serving the people of Trinidad and Tobago in the parliament.”

He continued, “I view her too as a patriot. I view her as a mother, a grandmother, and a friend. A friend who has worked tirelessly in service of the people of  Trinidad and Tobago.”

The former AG had some advice for supporters.

He said, “First, it is time for us as a people to stop the race talk. The newspaper on Saturday was full of it, and it did not come from the UNC platform. It came from a PNM platform.”

Jeremie referred to Prime Minister Stuart Young’s statements made last Thursday that the UNC was “using Black Trinidadians to spread hate.”

He said, “Tonight as an educated black man with a certain degree of academic and national accomplishment, I stand here in front of you to endorse the United National Congress.”

Loud applause followed his statement.

Continuing Jeremie said, “Second, I urge you and the viewing public to take a good, hard look at the state of our country today. I ask you to look at this honestly at what is going on. To say that our country is in crisis is an understatement. The criminal element is threatening to overwhelm us all. And that is not my conclusion; it is the conclusion of the present Government, which declared  that a State of Emergency existed in this country several months ago.”

The economy was also beyond crisis.

Jeremie said citizens need to answer the question, “Are you better off today than you were ten years ago?”

He answered it himself, “Brothers and sisters, the answer to that question must honestly be no.”

Jeremie asked another question which he also answered himself.

“Are you going to continue with those who have driven us to this point of crisis?  Again the logical answer must be no,” he said.

Jeremie ended his speech by stating, “My brothers and sisters, I urge you and the viewing public to do as  I will on the 28th April.”

More loud applause followed his statement.

“I will vote for change. I will vote for the United National Congress. I urge you to ask your friends to do so, I urge you ask your relatives to do so, I urge you to ignore the race talk and those who will divide us based on race. Give yourselves and your children a chance to change our future.  God bless and goodnight.”