No party is entrenched

CONGRESS of the People (COP) political leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan has responded to a newly announced coalition of Tobago parties and said no party, including the PNM, in Tobago is entrenched.

"I don't believe anybody is entrenched. There is always the argument of either one party or the other and the country can only accommodate two parties. But that is becoming outdated and moribund and people are looking for new options and alternatives. We (the COP) recognise we need a more progressive form of politics for TT that will seek the interest of this country."

Three parties–The Platform of Truth led by Hochoy Charles, Tobago Forwards led by Christlyn Moore and Tobago Organisation of the People led by Ashworth Jack–have announced their intention to form a political coalition with a name and symbol to be announced.

Seepersad-Bachan, in a telephone interview, said it was important to see how the coalition develops. She said coalitions are healthy and she has always stated that coalition politics still has a role to play in TT given our diversity.

Asked her advice to the coalition, she stressed the importance of equal sharing of power for a true coalition. She also said there needs to be consensus building on various policy issues and how these issues are executed.

"It stands a better chance for success."

She reiterated, the People's Partnership, of which COP was a member, was not a coalition but a partnership with a dominant partner and that is what caused it to fail.

"It was not a true coalition."

She said one of the best ways for sharing power is through proportional representation and COP still advocated for this to be done via constitutional reform.

UNC SEES

POTENTIAL

UNC deputy political leader Lee David Lee told Newsday the coalition says that people are willing to come together to remove the PNM within Tobago. He also said the leaders were well-known names and he described them as competent individuals who are well aware of what is required to win Tobago from the PNM.

"We see Tobagonian themselves are coming together for betterment to force the PNM out of Tobago. Maybe it's a signal that Tobago really wants a change."

On the coalition's chances Lee said it was still early days.

"I am sure they have their strategy. As days go on we will see how it evolves."

Former minister Vasant Bharath said the fact that is a coalition with a number of parties coming together augurs well for their chances against the PNM.

Bharath, who served as minister under the coalition People's Partnership, advised the new coalition that it must be one of interest and cannot be just to win an election. He added there must be a common ideology and common thread in terms of principles and beliefs. He cautioned that if the parties only come together to win an election and the ideologies are at variance then after an election there will be strain and stress on the organisation, as occurred with the People's Partnership between 2010 and 2015,

"The fact that the coalition is forming now rather than a month before election is good, as (the latter) is really cosmetic arrangement with no opportunity to discuss common policies and positions.