Wade: No seat is safe

Opposition senator Wade Mark
Opposition senator Wade Mark

NO seat is a safe seat in Monday’s by-elections Opposition Senator Wade Mark told Newsday in a recent interview, when asked if his candidate had any chance in the seat of Belmont East traditionally won by the People’s National Movement (PNM).

The frustration of residents over crime and water-shortages gives the Opposition a pool of hundreds of past non-voters whose support they hope to draw upon, he said.

In Monday’s by-elections caused by the deaths of incumbent councillors, three candidates will vie for each of two seats held by the PNM. In 2016 the PNM won the Barataria seat on San Juan Laventille Regional Corporation by 1,898 votes to the United National Congress’ (UNC’s) tally of 1,506 votes, while the PNM won the Belmont East seat on Port of Spain City Corporation by 773 votes to the UNC’s 49 votes.

Mark, who is UNC coordinator for Belmont East, was totally unfazed by that seat’s electoral history, speaking to Newsday on Thursday evening at the party’s office at Belmont Circular Road, Belmont. He was there for a cottage meeting that was re-scheduled due to an expectation of bad weather (based on details from the Met Office) to today (Saturday) at 6.30 pm at that venue, preceded by two motorcades respectively from 10 am to 12 noon and from 4 pm to 6 pm, with an interfaith service due for Sunday at that office.

Asked about the campaign, Mark said, “We have covered the area three or four times. People are tired seeing us.” Of the residents reaction to the UNC campaign, Mark said, “The response has been extraordinary, fantastic and beyond our expectation.

“An earthquake is developing that might be more powerful that the tremors we’ve been feeling recently.”

He said people have reached their “zenith of frustration.”

“In 2018, people can’t get a regular supply of water. For two or three weeks people have been calling WASA for a truck-borne supply.” Mark alleged poor garbage collection in the area, with trash strewn all over the place. He alleged poor road maintenance, bad infrastructure and joblessness among youth.

“A lot of people are concerned about their safety and security, because crime is an issue, not only in Belmont East but the whole country.

“Our focus is on getting Belmont working again and making Belmont safe, like singer Richard Nappy Mayers said, ‘Bring back the old time days.’”

Mark lamented that a bank had recently closed its Belmont branch, that some residents blamed on the frequent robberies of pensioners, with residents now forced to use branches in Port-of-Spain. He said, “Once we can make Belmont safe again, it will be an encouragement to the banking sector to re-visit their decision.”

Asked if the UNC has a tough fight in Belmont East, Mark was very upbeat. “No seat is safe in this country, again.

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"Wade: No seat is safe"

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