Devesh, Anil reject Deyalsingh 'black van' allegation

FORMER senator Anil Roberts and UNC candidate for Aranguez/St Joseph Devesh Maharaj both soundly rejected allegations by Health Minister and PNM candidate Terrence Deyalsingh of two black vans circulating in the constituency offering illicit inducements to voters ahead of April 28's general election.

The denials were made at a UNC rally at La Joya Complex, St Joseph, on April 22.

Deyalsingh had recently posted a video-clip onto social media alleging unnamed individuals driving two vans around offering money, cannabis, bullets, Hennessy cognac plus an alcoholic beverage known as Rude Boy.

Roberts, co-emcee of the rally, rejected the allegation. He accused Deyalsingh of concocting his claim, which Roberts said ought to have been beneath the dignity of a health minister to do.

"That man so dotish! He stand up there and bawl, 'Oh God! The UNC have two black pick-up! And they driving around with money, and Rude Boy! And they handing it out for people to vote for them!'"

He asked if Deyalsingh knew what Rude Boy was.

Roberts said, "Terrence, what is the number-plate?

"You didn't see the number-plate? You see Rude Boy, Hennessy, bullet..."

Motioning with his fingers to show the smallness of a bullet and his hands to show the largeness of a licence plate, Roberts scoffed, "He see bullet but he ain't see number-plate? Look, Terrence! give we a chance! This (election) is big people's business."

Roberts said the PNM seemed to think people needed to be paid to act, but that was not so.

Maharaj said Deyalsingh's remarks might have made local drivers of black pick-ups into targets for criminals.

"People are believing these black pick-ups are moving with money and all sorts of things.

"He hasn't identified the registration number. Nothing at all."

Maharaj said, "The only reason I can identify for this going on is that the youth in our constituency are gravitating towards the UNC. All the youth are saying is 'Yellow is the code! Yellow is the code!'"

He said the youth support had come from his walking the whole constituency and asking youngsters, "You tell me, what is it you need? Let me see if we can create a community manifesto."

Maharaj said despite a severe lack of local sports grounds, he had hosted a series of 12 sports events at different spots including small-goal football in the street.

"If you see the enthusiasm, camaraderie and togetherness of these people.

"It doesn't take much to do it. It takes a little organisation and togetherness."

Of local youths, Maharaj said, "They are saying 'Yellow is the code.'

"And then you make up a spurious allegation to challenge us, because of the success we are getting with the youth."