COP goes virtual to reach the people

The Congress of the People (COP) has been using virtual meetings to get its message out to the people.

COP political leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan told Newsday the party has a challenge to reach people with the covid19 restrictions. She reported, for example, that the COP's offices have remained closed.

To reach the party's supporters, Seepersad-Bachan explained that they have been doing Zoom meetings and other virtual meetings. COP is a part of the Better United group which included Port of Spain People's Movement led by former Port of Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing, TT Democratic Front led by Anthony Williams, New National Vision led by Fuad Abu Bakr, and the Democratic Party of TT led by Steve Alvarez.

Seepersad-Bachan reported that Better United has held four virtual meetings featuring the group's political leaders on Wednesdays and the topics have included security, agriculture and the reopening of the economy. The first night of the Better United meeting reached about 10,000 people, she added.

Last week, COP also had a public meeting via Zoom and Facebook live which featured guest speakers talking about the economy.

She said the party has been talking about technology as the way forward for this country. She explained that to get ahead of the curve there must be small and medium enterprises in an enabling environment supported by education.

"Just as we build highways, we need to build technology platforms people can build their applications on."

Asked about campaign finance reform legislation being sent to a Joint Select Committee (JSC) , Seepersad-Bachan said she was disappointed with the delay.

"I don' think it is ever going to pass before elections (later this year)."

She said that prior to the election, parties can still build up their "war chests" and there would be no way to investigate it. She recalled that government members kept saying that they would bring campaign finance reform, but they did not.

"They have done absolutely nothing, and they will do nothing before any election. The mere idea that it has gone to a JSC means they will bury it."

Asked about the party's screening of candidates, she said the COP will be working with Better United on how they want to allocate seats.

"We don't have a target date as yet. As we go along, we will look at what’s happening."