Piggott’s Corner in Belmont was hot Wednesday night.
So hot that rain flies which flew into camera spotlights fried.
Unfortunately with less than an enticing aroma than the smell of chicken ‘n chips which several PNM supporters munched as they listened to speakers who waxed just as hot for the Opposition’s national campaign launch.
Port-of-Spain North candidate Stuart Young said: “This is the beginning. They gave us a long journey — 81 days — but we won’t tire! We going wid it!!”
PNM’s platform a little way into Erthig Road allowed for a seated audience facing west and the platform.
Maxi taxis offloaded supporters: Lopinot, Arima, Diego Martin, D’Abadie O’Meara, La Brea, Siparia, Couva South, Port-of-Spain North, “Countdown to Ground Zero”. “We riding with Maxie”. “Securing Our Future — Rowley”. “Clarence 4 Mayaro”
Sean Robinson, waving a large flag declared: “This is a Tabaquite flag, I support Kevin Premchand the man who will unseat Suruj Rambachan.”
Miss Blake from Port-of-Spain South, beer in hand, added: “I ready four years ago, I give PP one year grace. After dat I regret I geh dem a chance at all.”
On the balcony of a building at the side of the gathering Diego Martin West campaign/ commander Jacquie Lazarus observed, as did a group of northern businessmen, including former MP John Rahael, on the main road.
PNM speakers happily took up the thread of ILP leader Jack Warner’s recent “tell all” on the Prime Minister.
Laventille West candidate Fitzgerald Hinds, speaking merrily of “ten-pieces” (weed) opined if the “plant-like substance “allegedly found outside the PM’s home, was “black sage, green tea or the international herb?”
PNM leader Keith Rowley, quipped: “We know they’ll rise ‘high’ — is how!... where dey find the black sage bush?... if the PM wanted to close her side, all she have to say is ‘I doh smoke!’”
“Alcoholic!” yelled a woman in support.
“Oooooohs” of mirth arose when Rowley slammed PP’s Delmon Baker: “He left the TOP. He’s now on the bottom where he’s quite comfortable... take the money (they give you) and vote dem out!”
And on PP’s Roodal Moonilal: “I was disappointed he didn’t know that when a next man paying your wife’s bills in London you are always the last to know.”
More howls of laughter.
Hinds reeled off his analysis of the Partnership: “MSJ — gone. TOP — dead. NJAC — never was... only the ugly UNC left... all dem alligators from the same murky lagoon. We promise you five years of corruption-free government.”
PNM chairman Franklin Khan added: “UNC shot call... they hiding behind Kamla skirt tail. So the celebratory mood was high. Hinds predicted: “What an evening that will be on September 7. We’ll be shouting and jumping.”
Rowley, hailed as “the first prime minister from Diego Martin” challenged the undecideds: “If you’re so intelligent, concerned and patriotic and you see nobody to run T&T, are you perceptive enough to see criminal footprints in government’s halls...”
He said he was “outside” the Parliament recently and as of Wednesday night’s dissolution of Parliament, the Government was too.
And stressing he was from Les Coteaux, Tobago, Rowley noted he had been “put out (from PNM’s cabinet) and recalled what happened (to PNM in 2010 election).
And now he was also “put out” of the Parliament by the PP, he added with a knowing grin on what might be the consequences to the PP.