Members of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) led by political leader Phillip Alexander attended last night’s UNC meeting at Pointe-a-Pierre.
It was the first sign of the PEP at a UNC meeting.
Last weekend, Alexander said his support and that of his party continues for UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and his “arrangement with the UNC and Kamla as leader and any agreement we come to have nothing to do with any other third party.”
Last week, Alexander endorsed Persad-Bissessar and UNC after he said NTA leader Gary Griffith publicly broke with the UNC and was no longer part of any accommodation.
When he heard Griffith had reconnected with the UNC, Alexander said he would cancel all appearances and meetings until UNC’s leadership decides if Griffith is again part of any accommodation.
PEP met last Saturday and decided to continue supporting Persad-Bissessar.
Among the speakers at last night’s meeting was Opposition Senator Wade Mark who said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley wanted the people to give him five more years “but no one’s safe,” noting the high murder rate.
Mark said the UNC would scrap the property tax when it returns to power and will do a series of investigations into “these fellas” in government.
He said whenever the elections are called the “PNM’s cuckoo is properly cooked.”
“Let’s move in a united fashion, there’s no vacancy in leadership in our party,” Mark added.
In an apparent reference to Mayaro MP Rushton Paray’s recent indication of interest in the leadership post, Mark declared that the UNC has one leader, one mission and one party. That view was echoed by Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee, who added: “And that is Kamla Persad-Bissessar.”
Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit pointed out that whatever is seen in the media about the UNC, it is a united team.
Mohit said she had written to National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds about a March 6 shooting incident near the Jerningham Primary School in Cunupia when the pupils had to go under their desks.
