While the United National Congress (UNC) brought out many supporters around the Parliament for yesterday’s no-confidence motion debate against Opposition PNM Leader Dr Keith Rowley, the PNM specifically instructed constituencies not to send people, PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum, had called on supporters to come out and support the party by their presence around the Parliament during the debate.
Obeying the PM’s request, supporters in yellow UNC T-shirts were visible around Port-of-Spain from as early as 11 am yesterday. But only one man in a red jersey leaned against the barriers outside the Parliament around 1.15 pm and he said he was not part of a PNM support plan. Ford said the PNM had given “strict instructions” for party units not to send people, “because we didn’t want any clash between PNM and UNC or others outside the Parliament. Anyone who goes there from the PNM is going on their own, not on party sanction.”
Other PNM officials noted that during a protest last year involving PNM supporters, labour and others, someone in a red jersey—like PNMites wear—had been arrested for holding up a placard with racist statements. The party disassociated itself from the placard bearer. That man later pointed out he was homeless and had been paid to bear the placard outside the Parliament. PNM officials said the party didn’t want a repeat of any such “set up” again.
Numerous UNC supporters from various constituencies had gathered around the Parliament precincts by 1 pm, yesterday, sitting along the sea walls of the Waterfront Complex, gathering in the Breakfast Shed area and nearby. Some also sat or lounged around at the Brian Lara Promenade’s west end. They held up signs, including “Respect Women, Rowley!” and “Hide Your Children From Rowley.”
Persad-Bissessar, clad in a flowing silver African-styled gown and towering silver headdress, arrived at 1 pm, got out of her car and walked along the barricades, greeting the eager, enthusiastic supporters and shaking hands with them. As she approached, many of the women among them jubilantly yelled, “God Bless the Prime Minister.”
Trailing her and shaking hands also were MPs Stacy Roopnarine, Ramona Ramdial, Fuad Khan, Chandresh Sharma, Stephen Cadiz, Glenn Ramadharsingh and Devant Maharaj. Former PNM stalwart Twiggy was literally on the PM’s side, since she was on the side of the barriers that the PM’s entourage was on.
low-keyed presence
People’s Partnership (PP) House leader Roodal Moonilal said he was pleased at the UNC turnout. He said the lack of PNM supporters was a sign of doubt that the party could muster more than a “handful of people” for such occasions. He said the PNM had previously used some labour sector numbers in previous events and that effort had also failed.
Inside the Parliament the only sign of PNM red was among the female PNM MPs—except for MP Paula Gopee-Scoon who was in black—and executive officer Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, as well as several PNM senators. A number of PP officials and activists attended. Some walked out when PNM MP Colm Imbert began to speak. Of the PP’s 26 MPs, 23 were present.