The Alliance of Independents (AI) is forming a full-fledged political party and has sent a party symbol to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), interim chairman Joe Pires confirmed yesterday. He said the party had a political leader in mind, but would not say who it was. Asked if it was a female leader—since Nicole Dyer-Griffith and he had been signing AI press releases—Pires said: “Nicole is the communications officer (but) we have a leader in mind.”
He said the group had not talked with a business official whom some in the People’s National Movement had been speculating might be a suitable candidate for a seat or a senate post as finance minister should the PNM form the next government.
The AI was formed soon after Dyer-Griffith’s husband, former national security minister Gary Griffith, was removed from the People’s Partnership Cabinet on February 2 following a police probe of witness-tampering allegations brought by Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan. Griffith gave a police statement which reportedly corroborated West’s claims. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar later removed Ramlogan and Griffith from her Cabinet.
Dyer-Griffith resigned as Congress of the People’s chair and the party soon after, taking issue with Griffith’s removal and other issues surrounding how the PP treated the COP. Also resigning from COP were Pires and other Diego Martin party activists. The group later sought to have meetings with other like-minded people.
Yesterday, Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader David Abdulah said talks they had had with AI were informal and no meetings were held for about three weeks. He said the MSJ was continuing to examine its options for contesting the general election in some constituencies. Also contacted, Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner said interaction with AI remained exploratory and while he was presenting candidates in Chaguanas West and East the ILP would not contest all 41 seats.
Winds of change
Pires said yesterday that the new party would be on its own and not part of a coalition with other groups they had been holding talks with. AI’s Jimmy Fifi said he submitted the party’s symbol to the EBC on Tuesday evening. The symbol comprises winds (of change) blowing with a book and is in T&T’s national colours. EBC CEO Ramesh Nanan said he was out of office yesterday and hadn’t seen it yet.
Pires said the political leader would be announced at the AI’s next public meeting (in Tunapuna), which would be after the group held cottage meetings next week in areas spanning from Tunapuna to Diego Martin. They planned to meet 600 people altogether and would make a formal decision on going forward, he said. “It’ll impact on AI’s existing (group) structure,” Pires said, confirming the AI would have an interim executive initially.
AI held its first public meeting in Diego Martin over two weeks ago, attended by several businessmen, residents and a Tunapuna group, where sacked PP minister Herbert Volney urged them to contest seats as independents. On whether AI planned to respond to overtures from other parties, since PP officials had hinted of contact with some AI officials, Pires said, “We’ll be prepared to talk to all the parties on how we can influence change in T&T.” He said that included the PNM.
On AI membership and funding, Pires said the new executive would need to be in place before embarking on a membership drive. He said funding would come via pledges which AI would seek. On if he would resign from the chairmanship of the Vehicle Maintenance Company (VMCOTT) board, he said, “That would be the logical thing to do, but it also depends on if I hold an official post on the upcoming AI executive, since I’m only interim chairman now.”
Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz said recently that Pires could remain on VMCOTT’s board unless the AI became a PP opponent.
Suruj welcomes competition
United National Congress deputy leader Suruj Rambachan yesterday welcomed the AI to the political landscape of T&T. “This is a free, democratic country and everyone has the opportunity to come forward in the political process; people should be encouraged to come foward to serve. I wish anyone all the best in their endeavours.” On whether AI would be asked to be part of the PP coalition, he said, “We’ll wait and see how things evolve in future.”
Asked if Pires, who now holds an interim position in AI, should resign from VMCOTT’s board, he said, “The PP isn’t vindictive. We try to get the best people for positions, unlike the PNM, which is vindictive even to their own members. “We operate on trust when people put themselves up for high office and express their observation of all protocols. So unless that changes there’s no need for change.” On the possibility of AI splitting the PP’s votes, he said, “People will vote for the PP as they believe in the concept and are starting to see all the work that’s been done.
“I think the PP will be returned in elections...general elections are different from THA, Local Government or by-election polls.” He also said he did not believe the PM’s decision not to fire Tobago MP Vernella Alleyne-Toppin over comments she made about Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley would hurt the PP.