"Anil Roberts is the best MP that ever passed through D'Abadie/O’Meara." So said Life Sport programme supervisor for the Carapo region, Devoughn Cummings. Speaking to T&T Guardian at the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen’s Carapo masjid yesterday, Cummings, 26, claimed that although he was a staunch member of the People's National Movement (PNM), he must give "jack his jacket."
"I was Anil Roberts' opponent in the last election. I was on the truck blasting Anil. But I must say, him winning the seat of MP is the best ever. He did for the youths because no one in the past did anything for the youths in this community," Cummings said.
When asked what he meant by this statement, he said: "My vote is priceless. When it is election time and they come to me for a vote I must find out what I can get from them. “The politicians' responsibility is to continue to feed the people and see about them. I am the MP’s employer.
“I do the assessing and if they do nothing for the community or they do not give they are voted out in the next election. Politicians suppose to come here to serve and not full their pockets and go."
Cummings claimed that former PNM MP for D’Abadie/O’Meara and government minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira used to frequent the Caparo area and wondered why she was not labelled a bad person.
He added: "They want to say that Anil gave us the Life Sport programme here in Carapo and because of that he is a bad person but why Colm Imbert and (Keith) Rowley not labelling Karen as a bad person because she used to come in here often.
"Most politicians don't care about me but the question is ‘As MP, what you going to give?’ And Anil gave to us this programme that has been very beneficial to us.
“The budget is around the sum of $56 billion for 1.3 million people and yet still poverty exists.
“They paving the same roads over and over. Why not divert some of the money in a way it can eradicate poverty?
“URP and Cepep workers work for $69 for four hours, that is why they have to look for other things to do to make the extra money. They wash two cars for $100 in 40 minutes,” he added.
Cummings urged all the youths on the ground to come together and lead discussions with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
“We have all rights to be heard and no one can tell us do not speak to the Prime Minister. If she chooses not to speak to us, well, that is her judgment and we will see, if it is so, what will happen for the upcoming general election,” he added.