Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was in full elections mode yesterday as she declared: “No retreat, no surrender.” She told thousands of supporters gathered at Constantine Park, Macoya, for the People’s Partnership anniversary rally that she is ready to do battle. She also used the event, which was broadcast live on three local television channels, to join hands with the leaders of the other parties in the ruling coalition and renew the pledge they made five years ago.
This time, however, Persad-Bissessar acknowledged the times her government faltered and declared that her government would grow from such experiences. In a wide ranging fifth anniversary address, the Prime Minister recalled the times the opposition and citizens at large said her coalition government would collapse.
“We have proven them wrong. We will wipe the opposition off the map of T&T and we will be a partnership that will take you forward into the future of T&T,” she said. “We made a promise. Always remember, no retreat, no surrender. We will be like soldiers in the winter night. Blood brothers and sisters in the stormy night ready to defend.
“We are ready to do battle, to keep great the country on the path of success, progress and equality. Do not be deterred by all the negative forces and malicious reports coming from the other side. They are desperate because they cannot contest our achievements.” Persad-Bissessar also announced several projects the PP will undertake if given that second term in office.
“The highways from San Fernando to Mayaro. This will begin now and will continue until completion. The access on the ocean front to Chaguaramas. We will establish dry docking facilities in La Brea which will bring us thousands of sustainable jobs in a traditionally depressed area. A national transport and traffic strategy, a medical tourism hospital.
“Development on a sequential basis of the seven economic zones. Those will be rationalised for agro-processing, commercial services, manufacturing, light manufacturing, petro chemicals and high tech manufacturing. These will bring good quality sustainable jobs,” she said.
“The San Fernando Water Front Development Project, on which the full study has been done, consultations has been held and this project is ready to go. We have already put a committee in place headed by businesswoman Daphne Bartlett. We have not forgotten Tobago. Development of a marina and designation of a duty free port,” she added.
Persad-Bissessar also announced plans for a port in Port-of-Spain that will link with other development initiatives, including the Invaders Bay development and the development of the Chaguaramas Peninsula. “Port-of-Spain will be renewed as a port city with extended waterfront, leisure, entertainment, business and residential areas. Those will bring more jobs and more revenue to T&T,” she said.
Another highlight of the rally was the launch of the PP Government’s campaign web site. What we will do in our next term we will lay out for you in our manifesto, our commitment, shortly and these are just some of the highlights. I ask you to make sure to check our campaign web site launched today, kamla2015.tt.” she said.