Third contender declares interest in fighting Moruga/Tableland

A third candidate has thrown his hat into the ring to contest the marginal and now controversial hot seat of Moruga/Tableland where battle lines are being drawn in the sand over the choice of candidates.

Steve Alvarez, political leader of the Democratic Party of TT (DPTT), who was born in Moruga but lives in Diego Martin, said his decision to contest the seat is an answer to calls from people who want real representation.

“I choose Moruga because, of all the places I lived before, Moruga remains home,” he told Newsday.

“I still have the house I grew up in at Moruga. I usually go there on weekends. I also do a bit of agriculture in Moruga at our ancestral lands. I have never lost touch with Moruga or the people I grew up with.”

Although he has been knocking on yet unopened political doors, Alvarez who contested and lost Diego Martin Central and East in the past, believes he has the best possible chance this time around of winning the seat against the main contenders.

Winston “Gypsy” Peters has been selected to replace incumbent Dr Lovell Francis as the People’s National Movement (PNM) prospective candidate. Local Government councillor Michelle Benjamin is the United National Congress’ (UNC’s) choice in that constituency.

Alvarez believes the village where seafarer Christopher Columbus first landed in Trinidad, is ready to chart a new course for TT and he wants to be among the trendsetters.

“The beginning of the rebuilding of TT will start from Moruga. Moruga was a place of birth of revival of hope after a journey of despair.

“I am confident that the people of Moruga, including Tableland and Barrackpore, will support a person who not only identifies with them but know first-hand their struggles and aspirations.”

He is confident this will be the first constituency in the 2020 general election to vote for a third-party, leading the way in a wave of nationwide support for parties outside of the two traditional political organisations.

"This is no empty promise or wishful thinking. I do not have to go house to house begging people to vote for me. I do not have to make promises to the people or try to influence them in any way.

“I am of and from the people and we the people are in this together.

“I grew up in the village of Grand Chemin, Moruga. I went to school at the Moruga EC School where I was the only student to pass common entrance in 1969 and went to Cowen Hamilton Secondary School.”