Griffith: Leave Young's 'stepdaughter' out of politics

NATIONAL Transformation Alliance (NTA) political leader Gary Griffith is urging the public to stop using Stuart Young's "stepdaughter" as ammunition in casting aspersions against him as the upcoming prime minister.

At a media conference at the party's San Fernando West constituency office on Lord Street on January 13, Griffith slammed politicians and members of the public who continue to use Young's former relation to Krystiana Sankar as a way to cast a shadow on his recent selection to become prime minister when Dr Keith Rowley resigns at an unknown date.

"Her face continues to be plastered on the media because of trying to link her with that individual (Young). That is because she was arrested by myself and they continue to demonise that young lady, to refer to her as the stepdaughter of the future prime minister. To try to go out of their way to destroy one man, you're destroying the life of a young girl because she made a mistake."

Sankar was arrested, along with Aruba Eligon, Jervon Cole and Yannis Pebbles Augustine, in a Westmoorings drug raid on December 4, 2018. Police recovered 191.66 kilogrammes (kg) of marijuana and 1.04 kg of cocaine valued at around $3.8 million.

In driving home his belief that Sankar's actions should not be held against Young, or anyone for that matter, Griffith said he too was related to her.

"That girl is my cousin. So demonise me. I have no qualms to state, yes, that is my family. She's a Daniel, and my mother was a Daniel.

"So what? You are going to continue to condemn a young lady and criticise and demonise her every single time because of your enjoyment and excitement and hatred for somebody else?"

Also at the press conference, the NTA presented five of its candidates who will contest the general election due this year.

They are Dr Kevin Sarran for San Fernando West, Nicolene Taylor Chinchamee for Arouca/Lopinot, Gail Castanada for Port of Spain South, former UNC local government election candidate Jarzinho Rigsby for Arima, and former UNC MP Christine Newallo-Hosein for Toco/Sangre Grande.

Commander Norman Dindial will be running for Chaguanas East.

Griffith previously said he would be contesting the St Joseph seat. Savita Pierre will contest Tunapuna.

As he defended Sankar, Griffith also warned his candidates to avoid stooping to that level on the campaign trail.

"The hatred and division and bitterness by politicians on all sides have destroyed the country. Our job in the NTA is to unite, to build, to be productive, and I ask all of you candidates, we are not going into this election with this gutter politics."

Despite being selected as Rowley's successor in a close contest after receiving 11 votes to his challenger Pennelope Beckles-Robinson's nine during a Cabinet retreat last week, Young received unanimous support from all 21 PNM MPs at the party's monthly general council meeting on January 11.

This means Young would have the majority support in the House of Representatives to become prime minister when Rowley resigns from the post.

Commenting on the development, Griffith stopped short of endorsing the selection as he commended Young's work as Minister of National Security.

"I have worked with the future prime minister, Stuart Young, which is why I doubt I could ever be a good politician, because I'll always be honest.  I'll always be a patriot to my country (rather)  than a politician.

"When I worked with Minister Stuart Young in my capacity as the commissioner of police, I think the country would have seen we made a very good team. We were able to handle covid, we were able to handle security. He provided me with the support, leadership, organising meetings – I've seen him work in his capacity as a leader, and it is difficult for me to criticise him on it.

"Unfortunately, what we do in this country is, we don't look at the quality of the person in how they perform. We will try to call (them) names, discredit the individual whose family would be arrested and all the nastiness in politics.

"I ask what we need to do is to judge individuals based on their performance and not based on the nastiness that you want."

In fact, Griffith pledged his support and expressed his best wishes to Young when he takes up the mantle.

"I wish Stuart Young well as the future prime minister. I give him the assurance that at NTA, we are not here to make the country ungovernable. We are here to provide support for the state, not PNM. That is our jobs as patriots of this country, and we would continue to give him that support until he decides, after the election, to relinquish his position to the NTA when we replace them."

However, Griffith was not as measured when it came to the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led UNC, as he lobbed scathing criticism after criticism of the way the party behaved during the 2010-2015 coalition government.

For instance, he slammed the imbalance of power the UNC held over the Congress of the People in the People's Partnership and the way contracts were allegedly given to known criminals.

Despite criticism of these acts and others, the NTA entered into an accommodation with the UNC for the 2023 local government elections.

Although a similar arrangement was expected for the 2025 general election, which is yet to be announced, on December 20 Persad-Bissessar said no such deal would be struck. This was confirmation of what many suspected after the relationship began crumbling in February 2024.

Asked, given the more favourable sentiments toward Young, if the party would consider joining the PNM with its new leader, Griffith said: "This is not about us trying to work with anyone...

"We would always keep our doors open to have dialogue with everyone, but our job is not trying to hope and beg people would recognise us."

Former Congress of the People leader Kirt Sinnette signed an agreement with the NTA, but resigned on December 17.

He was succeeded by former political leader Prakash Ramadhar as interim leader until Ramadhar was substantively appointed at the party's national council meeting on January 11.

Griffith said it is left to be seen if the agreement would honoured by the COP's new leadership.

Persad-Bissessar has admitted to having meetings with Ramadhar before and after he became the COP's interim political leader.

The NTA is also working with Timothy Hamel-Smith's HOPE towards an alliance, Griffith said.