The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) has challenged Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to call the general election by May 24—the date by which it is constitutionally due. Making the call yesterday outside the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, MSJ leader David Abdulah said the call comes on the heels of mounting public pressure from various quarters including business groups, the trade union movement and private citizens.
He stressed that public opinion was most evident in the social commentary currently being offered up at the kaiso tents, on blogs and other social media. “The Kamla Persad-led UNC government has lost all of its legitimacy, and must not stay in office a day longer than five years from the date of the last election which is May 24, not a day more,” Abdulah said.
Highlighting several controversial issues marring her government’s term in office, Abdulah added, “From Reshmi to Ramlogan, not a day more.” Among the scandals Abdulah listed was LifeSport, Section 34, prisongate, E-mailgate, the Debe to Mon Desir section of the Point Fortin Highway, the plight of contract workers, the lack of foreign currency, violent crime, amendments to the Tobago House of Assembly Act, the run-off bill and generally bad governance.
Abdulah said the MSJ’s call for the election was “in sync with the rest of T&T.” Referring to the recent issue involving the former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, which resulted in his being relieved of his ministerial portfolio, Abdulah said, “Other ministers ought to be investigated for either attempting to pervert the course of justice or attempting to witness tamper or attempting to influence persons who were witnesses in this matter.”
Claiming this was just a “partial list of all of the humongous wrong-doings which relate to bad governance and the collapse of the justice system,” Abdulah continued, “The fact that working people in this country feel discriminated against, the wanton abuse of office and power, the arrogance, the flashing blue lights which were illegally used by ministers for years and so on.”
Supported by other executive MSJ members, Abdulah said the political party intended to keep the pressure on Persad-Bissessar to call the election.