The Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) is running scared of the new Third Force Movement (TFM) since PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley obviously understands it is a threat and that PNM is likely to lose the marginal seats to TFM, says its head Timothy Hamel-Smith. Hamel-Smith yesterday hit back PNM’s heavy criticisms of the new party, voiced at Tuesday night’s PNM’s Morvant meeting.
Rowley said the TFM was formed to siphon away people who might be eyeing PNM as an option and in the face of a United National Congress (UNC) non-option. Rowley said he had taken letters regarding Section 34 to Hamel-Smith while he was acting President and requested a probe and Hamel-Smith subsequently said there was "nothing out of the ordinary." Rowley called on him to say if he thought Section 34 was indeed so.
Yesterday Hamel-Smith said it was very interesting that “for a party only a few days old” was being attacked and that PNM seemed scared of TFM’s impact on the marginals. He said TFM was seeking all seats but had no proposals about any People’s Partnership alliance. “We’re going out there and we feel we can win the hearts and minds of the third force sector and make a difference in this,” he added.
Denying Rowley’s claims about TFM financing, Hamel-Smith said: “I do not know if Dr Rowley is ready to level the playing field to disclose his source of party financing. “I promise him if he is prepared to establish such a level playing field the TFM will not hesitate to make similar disclosures. We intend to run a political campaign based on principle.
“We refuse to enter into mauvais langue, bacchanal and character assassination. The TFM believes all citizens of goodwill want to hear about policies and programmes that will transform T&T.” On Rowley’s other claims he said: “It seems Dr Rowley now thinks the Office of the President has the resources and investigative machinery to conduct a probe. What he asked me to do in my capacity as acting President was to follow the paper trail to see where it led.
“I then made a public statement published in the newspapers as to matters relating to the Section 34 legislation. “I also wrote personal and confidential letters to the Prime Minister and to the Leader of the Opposition. Some two weeks later Dr Rowley decided to make public the personal and confidential letter sent to him by the acting President.
“Is that the kind of integrity we can expect from Dr Rowley? On the other hand in fairness to the Prime Minister and in keeping with convention and proper protocol, the Prime Minister honoured the conventions that relate to communications with the Office of the President. “Having requested that the acting President follow the paper trail Dr Rowley refuses to accept the response made in confidence to him.”
On statements made by PNM deputy leader Marlene McDonald, that "this Third Force is a total mockery, it was hatched in the UNC... I want to ask (Hamel-Smith) since when you care 'bout the poor and downtrodden of Laventille, Beetham, Duncan Street and Sea Lots... this third force is to capture the disenchanted vote and carry it to the UNC... this is deceitful, deceptive and disingenuous, we see your plan,” Hamel-Smith said he was amazed McDonald could make the statements she did about him “given the failure of the PNM to do anything for Laventille over a period of 50 years in Government.
“I am in the politics because I believe I have a contribution to make in helping to transform T&T. “And, yes, I am a member of the Living Water Community and we have been instrumental in assisting the urban poor, including Laventille. In particular our Duncan Street Centre has fed and clothed the poor, the homeless and the vulnerable over the last 20 years.”