On Sunday 30th October, the MND celebrated 2 years as a political party. The MND is a new political party, but though we are young in years I want to assure you that we are prepared to make the mature decisions.
It has been an interesting 2 years that have seen people give of themselves selflessly, pursuing a goal of genuine National Development and today I wish to thank all of those people who have contributed to the development and sustenance of the MND, those who are still with us as well as those who would have helped along the way.
Today our manifesto, that has been posted on our website since our party’s inception on October 30th 2005 together with, our many press releases on most of the pertinent issues affecting citizens, form a significant part of the national agenda. That in itself gives us the satisfaction that we have at least so far contributed to the National Development of thought.
The time has come to take that one step further.
Although there are now people talking about devolution of power and empowerment of communities, divestment of the economy away from the over reliance on energy, reform of the pension system, the need for pre-school education, food security through support to farmers, prison reform to ensure rehabilitation, support of the family unit, sport and entertainment, terms limits, rights of recall, proportional representation, environmental protection and genuine national development, the MND understands from experience that much of it is just political rhetoric.
The difference is that the MND has properly thought through how we intend to deliver on these issues to the benefit of the vast majority of citizens. They are not merely talking points, but are serious issues for immediate implementation. And they can be implemented without the use of expensive foreign consultants.
Over the last 2 years the Movement for National Development (MND) has been linked to all kinds of arrangements, none of which have been actually true. The MND, in the interest of finding common ground and with the aim of forging unity where unity was potentially workable and in the best interest of the population, has spoken with most of the political players in opposition to the government over the last 2 years.
However, to this day, the MND has never joined with any other political party and has never given up the identity that is the MND. This is because the MND has not been convinced that any of the key political players in opposition to the government is actually any different from the key players in the governing PNM.
Their motives are the same. That is to get into government NOT to serve the interests of the people BUT merely to serve their financial masters and themselves.
As far as the MND is concerned, the other political parties are saddled with new politics that is not terribly new, leadership crises and politicians who have, without a shadow of a doubt, failed the population. Apart from the general consensus being that this is the most corrupt and disappointing government in the history of Trinidad and Tobago, even the Patrick Manning poll confirmed that he has presided over a cabinet of none performers, headed by the worst of them all, the Prime Minister himself.
More than all of this though, is a much more significant point, that of the political and economic agenda of these parties.
Every five years a group of people come along asking, sometimes begging to represent the people. However, the minute they win the election the very people they begged to serve become for them a nuisance. They threaten them, take their land, intimidate them, and treat them like dirt whilst they, the politicians, share up our resources in little back room deals that they keep secret from the population which are to the benefit of a little clique of local and foreign interests but usually to the detriment of the average Trinidad and Tobagonian.
Trinidad and Tobago simply has not been governed for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Whilst there are a handful of people who enjoy what this land has been given by GOD, the great majority of citizens feel enslaved by their leaders. We are forced to live off the crumbs whilst the masters funnel billions off to foreign bank accounts, build homes costing tens of millions of dollars and drive the most expensive cars in the world.
This whilst, the streets are filled with homeless people, homes are filled with hungry children, and ghettos become killing fields.
We all recognize that the system of government, which is controlled by big business, is inconsistent with equity and good governance.
And that there will be no change to the inequitable distribution of resources once this system remains intact.
I want to make it quite clear. The MND is not against big business. The MND will do all that it can to encourage business, because business, especially small and medium sized business drive the economy and create permanent jobs.
It is the inequality, the greed and the corruption that the MND has a problem with.
The MND states without any fear of contradiction, that this system will remain intact under the other three parties in this election race. Of this, I have little doubt.
The people in the hierarchy of these parties might look and sound different BUT the policies seem destined to continue to be the same. A majority for a little, and a little for the majority.
Their track record is there for all to examine. Every one of them has had the opportunity to be judged by the population, every one of them has been given a failed grade by the population at one time or another. BUT they keep coming at you. Throwing their money about to convince you to give them another chance to fail you again.
The time has come to get of that merry-go-round that leads us nowhere.
In light of this, the MND has decided to fight this election on its own. That is the mature decision. To stand firmly for what we believe to be right in this cesspool of greed and corruption.
We will give the population a genuine alternative to the system that discriminates against the majority, a system that discriminates against the ordinary citizen.
The MND states that it is indeed a two horse race. The other three are riding the same horse. Or at least is the horse being ridden by the same elements. They are being ridden by big business, corruption, inequity, bigotry, elitism and greed.
The MND is the other horse. And we are being ridden by the people who want a better future for their children. The people who are fed-up of being divided by ethnicity, religion, social standing and geographic location. The people who work hard and send their children to school wanting them to walk the right path and to become successes based on their commitment to achievement. The people who are tired of arrogant leaders who believe themselves to be more special than the citizens.
Our platform will be based on:
1. Genuine decentralization and devolution of power to communities. Where local government will be given a specific percentage of the national budget and a formula will be worked out for a fixed percentage of that allocation to go to the different Regional and City Corporations based on their geographic coverage, number of citizens, density and other relevant factors. Local government will be in full control of their budgets and will be responsible for infrastructure development and maintenance of all roads, bridges and, water courses in their region. In addition, they will have significant participation in the provision of education, housing, health care, government services, sport and recreational facilities in their regions, boroughs and cities;
2. divestment of the economy; (these and other issues will be developed on our public platforms)
3. food security;
4. land for the landless;
5. national security; (this too will be significantly expanded upon, but our solution is based on a system of equity and respect – the breakdown of communities is largely as a result of inequity and disrespect – what we like for ourselves, we must like for our brothers and sisters too. Prevention is better than cure. But where there cannot be prevention, there must be effective detection and speedy prosecution and even this with a view towards rehabilitation)
6. sport and entertainment; (harnessing our talent and turning into an industry will create many opportunities for empowerment)
7. proper education for all; (this cannot be overstated)
8. proper healthcare for all; (again too many nationals are suffering under this health system, people do not get better by advertisements, but by properly trained and highly motivated medical professionals)
9. the environment and energy conservation, with particular attention to solar energy; (just today there is a headline about power shortages – this is an issue we have raised time and time again) and
10. empowerment of the people by total social service reform.
In addition to a complete overhaul of local government to give it sweeping powers of autonomy and financial resources to undertake construction and maintenance of roads, drains, bridges, recreation facilities, community centres, houses, government offices, health centres, hospitals and schools. The MND will start by allocating some 35% of the national construction budget to small and medium sized construction companies, as such, under an MND Government every industrious person will have an opportunity to grow and actively participate in the developmental programme of the government.
On the bigger projects the MND will give local companies first preference, even if they have to import some specialist expertise from abroad. BUT an MND government will not be spending our resources on the proliferation of foreign consultants that we have grown accustomed to over the last 45 years, especially over the last 6 years.
No longer will Buoyes Bateman, Genivar or other friends of Calder Hart, Noel Garcia and Andre Monteil be in control of the construction in Trinidad and Tobago. We will literally put Construction Contracts in the hands of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
There will be no racket rail or no aluminium smelter either.
By decentralizing the services inclusive of education, health and other government services such as passport, driver’s licence, birth certificates, land registry, magistrates’ courts etc. the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago will have no need to converge unto Port of Spain on a daily basis and as such the traffic problems will ease and citizens will enjoy a much higher quality of life all around Trinidad and Tobago.
There will be no Executive President
More power will be given to the communities and less to the executive NOT the other way around. The MND realizes that too much power makes you do made things and I want to remain sane.
We will remove URP and restructure CEPEP
The MND has heard the cries of the people. URP does not make life better. The people want meaningful jobs with benefits like sick leave, vacation, maternity leave and pension.
By restructuring and empowering local government, many more permanent employment will be available in local government. We will also introduce the concept of child minders that will empower the women in society.
As for CEPEP, we will encourage people to get into business and again through local government many more construction contracts will be available. We will remove the political control allowing people to develop and grow and take control of their lives.
We hope this will encourage people to get out of a life of crime and pursue a path towards empowerment and sustainable growth for themselves and their families.
The MND will give the country back to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. I don’t want it for myself.
As I said, you will hear a great deal more on our platforms. The first of which will be in Maraval on Friday evening.
At this time, I will take this opportunity to name a few candidates already approved by our Central Executive and they are:
1. Earline Parsons, for the constituency of Laventille East/Morvant. Earline is a broadcaster, entrepreneur and most importantly a community worker who has done tremendous work with the prisoners and young men who have been neglected by society. She has worked with the people in the Port of Spain area consistently;
2. Greer Horsham is the MND’s Candidate for Diego Martin Central. Whilst the other parties believe that this is an elitist beauty contest, the MND understands that people need representation in that constituency and as such we are putting up a candidate who is a social worker and activist for people’s rights;
3. John Laquis, for the constituency of Port of
