By Sue-Ann Wayow

WIN, lose or draw in the general election, National Transformation Alliance (NTA) candidate for Point Fortin Errol Fabien is moving back to his hometown  to assist with positive development.

Fabien, who had contested the constituency of St Joseph on three occasions as an independent candidate, will be for the first time, fight a seat under a political party banner.

AZP News met with Fabien as he transited to Point Fortin from St Joseph on Thursday.

Fabien, a co-founder of the television station Gayelle, said whatever the results on April 28, he will remain in Point Fortin to enhance the constituency.

“I am moving Gayelle to Point. I will have my first meeting to start a youth advisory council for Point Fortin. I want to do that for agriculture, for entertainment and other disciplines. Young people need a voice. Whether I am the MP or not, those efforts will continue,” he told AZP News.

Fabien said he will listen to the voice of the youth and fight for Point Fortin’s own stadium and Academy for Performing Arts.

“But more than ever, creating non-energy opportunities for young people,” he said.

As Fabien walked the constituency that stretches from La Brea all the way to Icacos, he learnt the main issue constituents faced was unemployment.

And crime was a spin off from unemployment he said.

Fabien said Point Fortin contributed too much in the energy sector to not have the people in the community benefit.

“A lot of people on the blocks. When I was a youth in Point, we were on the block, but we on the block with books, talking about freedom and fighting,” he said.

With the decriminalisation of marijuana, marijuana use was everywhere especially with the youths but  the young brains were not ready for that, Fabien said.

He labelled the negative effects not just on users but on young persons inhaling the smoke as “a pandemic in the bud.”

 Fabien who described himself as an “unapologetic independent” in many various ways did not see himself joining any particular political party but a meeting with NTA’s political leader Gary Griffith about three years ago changed that.

He admitted, “I did not like Gary… but when I saw what he did with the police service I was impressed.”

Fabien said, “When I met him, I realised that he is talk plenty, but he also acts plenty and today I  could say he transformed the police service not because he is a good police officer or law enforcer but because he is a good leader. I have seen him put the NTA team together, I also saw him measuring performance and insisting on good management principles, using technology.”

If ever Trinidad had such leadership, it was now, he said.

The campaign trail had its challenges, Fabien admitted.

“It’s nice, it’s bitter, it’s sweet but it’s good for me to embrace something new which is working with a team. On top of it, I am enjoying being a part of the National Transformational Alliance.”

Fabien said, “I am getting so much love from the ground in Point Fortin.”

He gave an example of several persons willing to volunteer their services to his campaign, a gesture he became emotional about.

“If that in terms of those expressions turn into votes, I can be the next Member of Parliament for Point Fortin,” Fabien said.

He dismissed the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) political leader’s call to the other candidates to switch sides and join with the United National Congress (UNC).

“Madness! Insanity! The problem in governance in Trinidad and Tobago are those mega parties,” Fabien said.

“I think the Coalition of Interests as it is referred to is a sham I don’t think any small party interested in moving forward and in new governance should join that.”

Fabien said he dreams of the day when there will be political parties grounded and  focused on certain areas throughout Trinidad and Tobago for example, a central political party comprising the central areas.

“When that day comes, there will be coalitions because they will be working together to govern the country.”

And Fabien told AZP News, “I want to get into government but I want to work towards better governance more than I want to work to get into government. The victory is not in sitting in the Parliament, the victory is in transforming the country. And we could do that in or out. On the inside you have more tools and more power and with an ease. But our victory is not to get rid of the PNM it is to get new governance to make people accountable.”