The three-week-old Third Force Movement will not be contesting the September 7 general election since the time frame is “too tight to establish the institutional framework for a fully fledged political party in order to contest the election.” So said TFM chairman Timothy Hamel-Smith via a statement yesterday, hours ahead of TFM’s second public meeting planned for San Juan. That meeting was later cancelled.
TFM’s statement confirmed a turnabout by the group just over two weeks after it was launched and registered a party symbol with the Elections and Boundaries Commission and a week after its highly-touted inaugural meeting at Maraval. At its launch three weeks ago, TFM had stated that its members would be contesting seats in the upcoming election. TFM’s associate members are the Alliance of Independents (headed by Nicole Dyer-Griffith) and the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) (headed by Dr Carson Charles).
But yesterday, Hamel-Smith said, via the statement, that while TFM would no longer seek to participate in the election, that did not preclude any of the groups or individuals associated with it from contesting the election in their individual party names. Hamel-Smith’s statement said that he “noted with pride that TFM had made enormous strides with large crowds of enthusiastic supporters joining them at their rallies and had rattled the political establishment despite the very short time frame since its launch on July 3.”
The statement also noted: “The Third Force Movement was created with the explicit intent of making a real difference to the politics of the country, one based upon principled governance. “The whole reason for our existence, first as a lobby group and then, lately, as a political party has been based upon three key foundation principles.”
This was stated as implementation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, 2015; the enactment of party and campaign financing legislation and the amendment of the Constitution to introduce a fair electoral voting system.” Hamel-Smith’s statement expressed regret “to the many supporters who have shown their allegiance to TFM as a real hope for change
“But it is better for TFM to prepare itself on a more sound structural footing now, so as not to disappoint its followers in the future. This is not the end of the Third Force Movement,” the statement added. Hamel-Smith didn’t answer calls to his cellphone for more details yesterday.
Time against us
However, TFM PRO Phillip Alexander said the decision to stand down was due to “time mostly, the ability to present ourselves fully formed and ready for this election.” Alexander added: “The abundance of issues needing rectification put issue advocation on the back burner and undermined our purpose for being.
“We plan to continue to advocate for better governance. It is our intention to create a safe space for the undecided voter and to continue to grow forward in time for the next election.” On who TFM members would support, if anybody, Alexander said: “That would be determined by who if anyone agrees to sign on to our three foundational principles of campaign finance reform, implementation of procurement legislation and a fairer electoral system.”
As to TFM’s plans for the future and what option undecided voters may now have, NAR’s Charles said the groups have to continue talks on finding the way forward for such people and others to have a voice. He said TFM had not entered any negotiations with anyone. Charles, however, defended TFM’s decision not to contest the election, saying it had to make a judgment call on what it could achieve in a short space of time.
He said the reality was that a lot of work needed to be done between now and September 7, from selecting candidates, screening and deciding whether to undertake alliances and with whom. He said TFM was not fully branded with the public yet in terms of symbol, personalities, manifesto or inaugural conference.
Charles also said the NAR had not decided if to contest upcoming polls by itself. TFM’s statement quoted Gerald Yetming, a member of its leadership council, as endorsing Hamel-Smith’s actions. “The desire to effect change, the desire to drive for more honest, transparent and principled governance, no matter which party is in power, remains.
“We will now simply regroup to identify which channels of action can best be activated to continue to influence how our country is governed,” Yetming said.
Building party not easy—PNM
People’s National Movement chairman Franklin Khan said yesterday he was not surprised at the Third Force Movement’s decision to pull out of the election, saying it seemed they had realised that forming a party and forming a base is not easy. “Everyone wants instant gratification and instant victory in this election and that’s not easy. Politics is hard work and building an organisation from the bottom up is hard,” he said.
Saying one didn’t set out from the top of a political organisation in a country, Khan added: “Political parties are built from the ground up and it takes time and effort and hard work, plus cadres of committed people that they do not have, so we are not really surprised at the development.” United National Congress deputy leader Suruj Rambachan said the TFM was the best judge of its decision.
“They must have thought out what was best for T&T and acted on their deliberations. We must respect their decision,” he said. Rambachan said he was not aware that PP or UNC had any talks with TFM members. Congress of the People (COP) leader Prakash Ramadhar said the announcement had come as a surprise.
He added: “One would have expected that the decision to register the party was a clear expression of their intention to seek to have a place in the Parliament to further their stated three-point programme for political change. “The COP remains convinced that advances of its agenda for change have been made in the last five years and can best be further implemented with a voice in the Parliament.
“Fundamental change in our political culture and governance systems requires a longer perspective and programme. “However, if those who seek such change operate as a pressure group, without a parliamentary presence, the necessary immediate or short-term steps required to achieve the overall aim will not be made.
“All who wish to pursue the change agenda for our nation must work together in and out of Parliament. “We encourage all who are committed to taking this beginning to the next necessary stages to come together and work in unity to achieve these lofty goals that our people so eagerly desire,” he added.