Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal says the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) rejection of several of its sitting MPs is regrettable. “It is strange that these people who are being rejected are the people who I found to be very good representatives. They are the ones who harass me, as they should, and make strong representation for their constituents to benefit for housing, Cepep and grants. It is regretted.” Moonilal made the comment following a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) key distribution ceremony at Beetham Gardens, Laventille.
On Friday, the PNM rejected incumbents Dr Amery Browne (Diego Martin Central), Alicia Hospedales (Arouca/Maloney) and Fitzgerald Jeffrey (La Brea) as candidates for the forthcoming general election. Yesterday, Moonilal said MPs Browne, Nileung Hypolite and Donna Cox were known for chasing him down to get help for their communities, and Jeffrey had raised 1,000 questions in Parliament for the people of La Brea. “I have great respect for those incumbents,” he said.
Asked if the rejection could weaken the PNM’s chances at the polls, Moonilal said he could not say because he was unfamiliar with some of the new candidates. “There is a lot of talk that the rejection of Mr Browne has to do with the elevation of a Gerry something... I don’t know if they are pulling a jerry on the people of Diego Martin Central. It could well be that they might get a jerry instead.”
Moonilal also responded to Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner, who said in a statement Friday that he believed the HDC’s increased distribution of houses was a scheme to help manipulate votes in some constituencies. “I want to ask Mr Warner, when he distributed 365 HDC units when he was in the Government, if that was an election ploy as well. Mr Warner and his family have also benefited from the Ministry of Housing and that was not an election ploy.”
Yesterday, 12 residents of the Beetham community received keys to two- and three-bedroom apartments, which cost the HDC $3 million. In the coming months, Moonilal said, the HDC would build an additional 24 apartments. Thereafter, another 48 apartments would be constructed on a phased basis. “This will form part of our renewal programme. In the Beetham community we have been working with these residents to break down their old shacks and properties and slowly rebuild. What you see here is the beginning,” Moonilal said.