Nobody was paid to attend or forced to come to PP’s “renewal” rally at Macoya last Sunday, says Works Minister Suruj Rambachan.
Rambachan, whose portfolio includes CEPEP/URP, was asked about statements from various people wearing UNC T-shirts who spoke during interviews at the rally and confirmed they were employed with CEPEP.
Several said they were bona-fide UNC members but some were non-committal.
One man, who confirmed he worked with CEPEP in the northeast, said he was not coming to work yesterday following his attendance. Sources have claimed some CEPEP workers were promised yesterday off for attending the rally.
But Rambachan said: “Every person who attended came voluntarily. Nobody was paid to come or forced to.
“It was a public event and if people wanted to come, regardless of what state agency — from ministry to otherwise — they work for they were free to attend.
“It was the greatest mobilisation we had done. I would say the crowd was bigger than 2010. Security forces estimated the crowd around 40,000 due to the number of people who were outside the venue and could not get in. The partnership on Sunday showed its strength to those who had doubts and has launched its election campaign.”
Asked about jersey distribution at some entrances on Sunday, Rambachan said: “Everyone distributes jerseys and other things at rallies. The amount of people we had to give jerseys to after they asked (for it), was amazing,”
Asked if the PP might be overreaching in believing that all CEPEP/URP workers who were wearing UNC jerseys might really vote for the PP, Rambachan said the PP believed in its members.
“Dr Rowley has become desperate and his comments indicate that he is setting the stage for a series of complaints — to Caricom and elsewhere — about the election to stir up feelings against this government,” he added.
Rambachan claimed some PNMites, but didn’t say who, “didn’t attend the PNM family day last Sunday in Port-of-Spain and have gone to the middle ground.”
He claimed La Brea, Fyzabad and Point Fortin were being abandoned by PNM groups.
On whether UNC or COP officials had talked to COP MP Winston Dookeran who attended the rally, or whether he will contest Tunapuna again — after some COP officials complained they hadn’t been able to contact him — Rambachan said: “I’m sure Mr Dookeran will make up his mind in time.”
Rambachan said small (unmanned) drones which had been circling the Macoya grounds during the PP rally had been taking pictures.
He said the PP would now be moving across T&T once a week at constituency level to detail further its manifesto.
Meanwhile, PNM holds a walkabout and public meeting today in Valencia supporting its Toco candidate.