NATEX unanimously endorses Kamla for leader of UNC; MPs support her for opposition leader

The National Executive of the UNC (NATEX) on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution supporting Kamla Persad-Bissessar as leader. Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal proposed the resolution, which was seconded by Tabaquite MP Dr Suruj Rambachan.
 
The People's Partnership[ MPs also unanimously agreed to support Mrs Persad-Bissessar as the Leader of the Opposition.

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PREVIEW OF NEW PP BUDGET: Pensioners pay no VAT for utilities; tablets for primary school students

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-­‐Bissessar made a special announcement on Friday concerning the first PP budget following the general election.

She said: "As I hope everybody is aware, I have a clear plan for a better future for Trinidad and Tobago. We have made great strides over the past five years and in the second term my government's policies will deliver:
 
1. more jobs;
2. zero tolerance on crime;
3. safer streets;
4. improved childcare;
5. new schools for your children;
6. new roads creating jobs and linking communities
7. new hospitals to care for your family.

"My word is my bond. I am in politics because I want to improve lives and make a difference. In my very first budget in a second I
will ensure that:

1. We will remove VAT from utility bills for pensioners, saving an
average of $900 per year for over 170,00 of our old aged citizens.
People who have worked hard all their life will be more secure in their retirement.

2. We create over 1,000 new jobs by establishing three new economic zones in East Port of Spain, the North Coast and Central Trinidad and an enterprise zone in the South East, meaning more opportunities are available for our young people with new and diverse well-paying jobs.

3. We will provide a table for every primary school student so every child has access to the technology that will ensure that they have the best possible start in life. We will also distribute vouchers for students to obtain laptops too.

4. We take a zero tolerance approach to crime by requiring each police station to meet specific crime reduction targets. By providing $100 million to clear the backlog of cases in our justice system we will ensure that police and judges can make sure that criminals pay for all crimes and the public will feel safer and more secure in their communities.

“We’re on the right path and we can continue to build a better Trinidad and Tobago by keeping our economy on track, continuing to invest in education and training to help people get better jobs, taking a zero tolerance to crime so people feel safe and protected, delivering quality health care and building crucial infrastructure to link our communities and improve lives. 

“The only way to ensure this country moves forward and does not regress backwards is to elect my government for a second term next Monday. I urge all citizens to vote for my People's Partnership candidates."

Photo story: Everybody's PM

PM Kamla's independence message urges citizens to work for a better TT

T&T National Flag raised on 31 Aug 1962

National Coat of Arms. Below: The tri-colour national flag of T&T

Today, we celebrate the day on which Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence in 1962.

All the people of Trinidad and Tobago - whether at home or abroad - can be very proud of our achievements, development and influence as an independent nation.

We recall that day on 31st August 1962 when our red, white and black flag was first hoisted. We salute all patriots who have served our nation with distinction. Since that day we have made our own destiny and guarded our own rights and freedoms.

We are a model to the world as a diverse nation of people of many origins who have been able to forge an enduring unity.

We are richer for our diversity and differences and we are stronger as a nation because of the harmony which exists.

Today is a day for all our people whatever their race, background or location.

The responsibility is on us all to remain true to the founding principles of our nation. The challenge to us is to ensure an even better future for our children.

We can be very proud of the performance of our economy, our education system, our healthcare, our infrastructure and our provision of homes. We can also be proud of our achievements in sports, through cricket, football, boxing, and athletics. But let us make the most of what we have and move forward to a better tomorrow.

Let us all work to continue the progress made since independence and to secure an even better future for Trinidad and Tobago.

May God Bless you and your families, and may God Bless our nation, Trinidad and Tobago.

PNM's PROPERTY TAX DANGEROUS: COUDRAY

Marlene Coudray

Local Government Minister Marlene Coudray told supporters on Friday poor people will lose their properties if the PNM gets into office and implements the Property Tax.

She was speaking at a joint cottage meeting hosted by the PP's San Fernando East and San Fernando West candidates Ashaki Scott and Raziah Ahmed held at Manjack Street, Marabella.
 
Coudray, who served as a San Fernando Mayor before she became a government minister, said thousands of people will not be able to afford to pay taxes for their properties if the PNM makes good on its promise to set up the Revenue Authority.
 
"I served as CEO of the San Fernando City Corporation and when the PNM proposed the property tax, I did a document and told them that those taxes will kill people and make them lose their properties as they will not be able to pay," Coudray said.

She added that the poor people on the Marabella Trainline were scheduled to pay $3,600 per year under the proposed property tax scheme. "We looked at the poor people in Pleasantville and they were down to pay $3,600. In Gulf View, people's properties would have gone up by 3,000 per cent. When you cannot pay taxes, the corporation will put properties up for sale," Coudray warned.

She also spoke about a prominent San Fernando family who has a descendant in PNM politics. This family, Coudray said, purchased multiple properties decades ago from poor people who could not pay property taxes.
 
"I want to ask who was taking people properties when they couldn’t pay their rates? The sharks are out there waiting to prey on innocent people again," Coudray added.
 
She said under the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration, there will be no property tax for 2016.
 
"The Prime Minister has said that all squatters will be regularized and we have to let people settle themselves before we have taxes," Coudray explained. She also accused the Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley of trying to hoodwink the population by promising to reduce VAT to 12.5 per cent.
 

Ashaki Scott

Saying that the PP government had already reduced VAT on 7,000 food items, Coudray said that Rowley planned to put back VAT on the 7,000 food items before implementing the 12.5 per cent decrease.
 
Meanwhile, Scott urged the supporters to vote for Persad-Bissessar. Saying she came from a lineage of anti-PNM activists, Scott vowed to end infrastructural neglect in the south city. Ahmed also promised a clean city.

She said water will be made available for all, and health care and education will be world class.

Kamla calls out Rowley for neglecting the poor

Supporters at the UNC rally in Moruga/Tableland

In her most stinging attack on Keith Rowley so far, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday took Rowley apart on policy judgment and trying to pull a confidence trick on the people of Trinidad and Tobago and betraying the legacy of the past 53 years. 

The speech to a packed public meeting in the Moruga/Tableland constituency, was used by the Prime Minister to contrast the Plan she and the People’s Partnership have put to the people to improve the lives of citizens, versus the vacuous empty rhetoric of Keith Rowley. 

Mrs Persad-Bissessar highlighted the potentially devastating consequences of a Keith Rowley government that would bring back the hated property tax, increase VAT and cut vital public services. 

She said, "As we approach our 53rd anniversary of Independence on Monday, the people of our country will reflect on how loyal, forgiving and united we are as a people. Do not allow Keith Rowley to use this mood to spread his dubious distortions and make you think that after 50 years of betraying the people, they will now change. 

"If you want a glimpse of how Keith Rowley will manage our nation, look first at how they managed the fortunes of the most faithful who wedded themselves to the PNM since the beginning! In over half a century, and over 40 years of power, East Port of Spain and Laventille have never turned their backs on the PNM. 

"Even when the PNM was almost wiped out in 1986 and 2010, the people of Laventille stayed loyal. Yet by 2010 when you elected us, outhouses (*latrines) were still a way of life for the people of Laventille! 

"It is my Government, during this term, that launched a programme to finally bring dignity to families and homes in Laventille. Through this programme we eradicated pit latrines and replaced them with septic tanks and soakaways, showers, sinks and all electrical plumbing, tiling, painting and doors. This is what prevailed with Keith Rowley and the PNM after two energy booms!
 
"Keith Rowley’s PNM has built fortunes and enriched their closest friends for years on the backs, the indignity and the blood of the faithful poor and vulnerable. They rewarded loyalty with contempt, and today take pleasure in the challenges they think you face by using every conceivable way to panic you. 

"Keith Rowley and the PNM would see this country burn if they felt confident they could rule and dominate the ashes…If that is how Rowley’s PNM condemned the people who always stood by them, what could possibly make you think they will stand by you? 

"The task has always been ours to rebuild, renew and restore hope and opportunity for a secure future. It is a job I took on in 2010 and it is a job I commit myself to continue doing with another term as your Prime Minister. This is the choice you face. 

"I have promised you better jobs, better communities, more access to homes of your own, new sectors where our young people can build their professions and a good future. 

"And I have gone further to tell you how I will deliver those things, how the economy will be expanded, how investments will be made to create the space for your own homes, better jobs, more security and a secure future. 

For further information and details of all aspects of the forthcoming campaign, please visit www.kamla2015.tt

TEWARIE: PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS BEST

Planning and Sustainable Development Minister Bhoe Tewarie says private/public partnerships is one of the best ways to keep T&T's development on track.

Speaking at a UNC cottage meeting at Trinzuela College, San Fernando on Thursday night, Tewarie said the People's Partnership will continue to execute its policies once it gets a second term in office.

He told scores of supporters that the San Fernando waterfront project remains high on government's agenda adding that it will boost tourism and provide employment. Local investors will also benefit from the projects and the development of the various growth poles which will help stimulate the economy.

He also reminded the audience that government brought T&T out of a financial crisis:

"When we came into office the economy was in crisis. We had the financial crisis to manage, it was severe. Institutions were collapsing and the economy had to be managed well. The world crisis system never settled while we were in government but we managed to deal with inflation, reduce unemployment and we opened up education in this country like never before," Tewarie said.

"We have seven strategies for development and 10 flagship projects. We said we are going to have public private partnerships and we will have private sector spending in a number of projects. We cannot risk having a situation where the economy is stopped from growing. If your economy contracts, unemployment grows and scarcity occurs," Tewarie added.

He called on the citizens to continue to work with the government to achieve its objectives and added that some seats such as Arima and San Fernando West were showing victory for the UNC.

UNC candidate Raziah Ahmed also told supporters that she wanted a cleaner and more beautiful city. She said once the San Fernando waterfront project is completed, San Fernando will have opportunities for tourism and growth.

During an interactive session, one resident, Glenroy Hall, asked Ahmed to consider putting a museum in the south city as it was rich in Amerindian history.

Another resident, David Mowlah-Baksh, also asked Ahmed to consider providing better opportunities to the people on the northern side of the constituency. He explained that this group were among the poorest in the southern regions.

Ahmed vowed to devote her time to the people and said consultations will be held to discuss the museum.