Former Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, referring to UNC deputy leader Suruj Rambachan recusing himself from the party’s election committee, said others in the committee needed to do likewise. Warner said even though Rambachan had recused himself physically, he will be there spiritually. “There will be other Surujs there,” Warner told reporters yesterday, during a visit at the Bamboo Grove Presbyterian School, which was holding a family day.
He said he feels Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is taking too long to announce the by-election date. Warner said the same thing former prime minister Patrick Manning did in stalling the local government election date is being replicated by the PP Government. “What we are having here is no different to what Manning did in his back pocket. But if the belief is that it did not work well for Manning and it will work well for the present regime, then so be it.”
Warner could not say if the PM had the date in her purse or fob, stating that this will not change the result of the election. Stating that the voting population in Chaguanas West had increased from 25,000 to 26,000, Warner said if he gets 25,999 votes in the by-election, he would be disappointed.
Warner also distanced himself from the $6.5 million water tender fiasco, saying that he will not be bogged down by the issue which took place last November and was revived as a red herring on the eve of an election. “This is the era of dirty tricks. Their aim is to tire and burn me out. That will not happen.”
Commenting on the emergence of eight party groups which he described as phantoms, Warner said “the evil that is sown today will come back to haunt us later on. And I don’t understand yet, the kind of donkey logic that is taking place now in the corridors of power.” UNC election officer Ramona Ramdial said that there are 39 party groups in the constituency, however, Warner said records show 31 party groups elected within the constituency in accordance with the UNC’s constitution.