THE Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) will contest three seats in the April 28 general elections.
This was revealed by the party’s political leader Phillip Edward Alexander at its campaign launch and presentation of candidates at Bamboo No.1 on Saturday.
Alexander also called for smaller political parties to join him and the United National Congress (UNC) to become part of the Coalition of Interests.
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Alexander himself will take on Prime Minister Stuart Young, the incumbent for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West, while Janice Learmond-Criqui will contest Diego Martin West and Brendon Butts in Diego Martin North East.
The PEP political leader said, “The only way to save Trinidad and Tobago is for all to unite. And you can’t complain boss when I in my party, when I in my office, I could do I want, I is the boss.
“But I sit down with them, I’m not the boss.
“And I understand that to be a good leader, you have to be a good follower. To be a good leader, you have to understand that there will be a time when you have to add your strength to other people’s strength in pursuit of the common interest, for the betterment of the country, to rescue all of the people, to save the nation. That is the purpose.”
Alexander said the country was better off when Kamla Persad-Bissessar was prime minister from 2010 to 2015 when compared to 2015 to 2025 under the People’s National Movement (PNM).
Alexander urged citizens to reflect on their collective identity.
“That is who we are,” he stated, “and we have to remember who we are as a people, where we come from, because that’s the only way to chart how much to believe in what we could be and where we could go, and the unity that the Coalition of Interest represents.”
He accused Young of bullying during their shared time in secondary school at St Mary’s College.
Alexander vowed not to let the allegations fade, urging victims of Young’s alleged actions to share their stories through his social media channels.
He said, “Stuart Young, until you apologise to Imran Khan for the five years of torture, you should not be allowed to run for elected office in this country.”
Alexander pledged solidarity with survivors of abuse, bullying, and discrimination.
He said, “To all the victims who have walked with me for decades, know that I will stand with you.”
At the launch were former UNC MPs Barry Padarath and David Lee.
