The Independent Liberal Party (ILP) and National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) are working out a “grand alliance” of those opposed to “what stands for goverment today” and opposed to the PNM, says ILP leader Jack Warner. Warner said so after addressing yesterday’s first ILP convention, where he announced ILP and NAR’s move towards joint programmes. The NAR is the only party “where not a single member has been accused of corruption in the past 25 years”, he said.
ILP’s Lyndira Oudit will meet a NAR team headed by Khalid Rahaman next week to work out the alliance, he said, adding that ILP shadow MPs and councillors are being appointed island-wide. According to Warner, it was the NAR that approached ILP for the alliance. He said while he supported NAR’s unity call, this was in the context of a “grand alliance” of a different kind. “In this, before we come together we’ll spell out specific rules of engagement and sign an agreement on issues,” Warner said.
He added, “We’ll form a grand alliance with any group opposed to what stands for government today and to the PNM...who wants to join with us will join.” “No party can form government by itself, whether PP, UNC or PNM. Others are dead. This is the age of coalition government, based on terms worked out before elections.” He said except for the NAR, other parties ruled corruptly.
Asked about the PP in the grand alliance, Warner said it was open to them, once they conformed to the alliance’s rules of government, but ILP wouldn’t subscribe to theirs. Saying the ILP had shown its relevance in recent elections, he said what is relevant now is where ILP goes from here and what it does to attract a voting majority. Warner said the ILP’s move to place its constituency offices in mainly marginal seats was no accident. He said the political landscape had shown there is space for a third party and especially for ILP.
He added, “PNM failed us, PP fooled us. We can’t prolong the bad dream of the PP, nor can we go back to the PNM if we’re to progress.” “Not one of them can single-handedly encourage votes enough to put them in power on their own. Their support has dwindled but they have the money to corrupt the electorate and it is on this both parties depend.”
A couple hundred people attended the event at the Centre of Excellence. Feature speaker was E Paul Green, chairman of the Antigua/Barbuda Labour Party, who said ABLP will mentor ILP. Warner called for a minute’s silence for murdered children in T&T, saying others had rushed to console families of the latest victims only for media and “optics” purposes.
Suruj wary
One has to carefully examine all the facets of the new alliance Nidco president Carson Charles has developed, says Works Minister Suruj Rambachan. Asked to comment on Charles’ move and statements with the ILP yesterday, Rambachan said, “I can’t fully comment until I examine the content and context of his statements.”
On Charles’ and Warner’s statements on alliances and the need for unity, UNC deputy leader Rambachan added, “For myself personally, you cannot go about destroying the good character of people and their family and later think that’s OK. As far as I’m concerned, Ive taken certain steps and I’m not withdrawing from that. At the end of the day, the only thing a person has is their good name and character.”