By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Congress of the People (COP) has officially joined forces with the United National Congress (UNC) in a joint effort in contesting the April 28 General Election.
The COP is the latest group to join the UNC in the hope that the People’s National Movement (PNM) will be removed from government after almost 10 years.
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Already, the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP), the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), the Public Services Association (PSA), and the LOVE party have signed on with the UNC to form the Coalition of Interests.
In a joint media release on Thursday from the UNC and the COP, the release stated that the COP will contest two key seats: St. Ann’s East and Port of Spain South.
“This marks a major expansion of the coalition’s reach into areas long neglected by the PNM, giving citizens new hope for real representation and meaningful transformation,” the release stated.
The parties stated, “The Coalition of Interests is growing stronger every day, bringing together political forces, labour movements, and civil society to tackle crime, economic decline, foreign exchange shortages, skyrocketing food prices, job losses, and the collapse of key institutions of accountability, transparency, independence and democracy.
“Now, more than ever, we need all hands on deck to rebuild Trinidad and Tobago, fix our broken systems, and restore our nation to its rightful place as a peaceful, harmonious, vibrant, and prosperous centre of the Caribbean, the hemisphere, and the world. The time for change is now. The Coalition is ready. Trinidad and Tobago is ready to win.”
The release was signed by UNC’s general secretary Peter Kanhai and COP’s general secretary Ralph Hart.
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On March 8, the COP reaffirmed its commitment to the political arena led by its political leader Prakash Ramadhar.
This will be the second time, the COP is joining hands with the UNC, for a general election, the first being a part of the People’s Partnership in 2010.
