Foster tells PNM: The battle is coming

A crowd of about 300 people turned out on August 20 for the PNM's La Horquetta/Talparo tenth annual constituency conference, where local MP and Minister of Youth Development and National Service Minister Foster Cummings spoke about ongoing projects and new initiatives.

Supporters, decked in the party's signature red, made their way to the HDC Village Plaza Car Park, La Horquetta. Those not already wearing red were given a free "Prosper with Foster" T-shirt, and by 7.45 pm, Cummings took the stage, accompanied by a roaring rhythm section that masked the applause.

Cummings, who spent about 30 minutes delivering a passionate speech, began by taking jabs at his political opponents.

“We campaign strong and we campaign hard, and we win, but when we sit in the corridors of power, we govern for all.”

He said the PNM is preparing for battle “because the battle is coming.”

Cummings asked his constituents to keep supporting the PNM.

“I say to you, as I did in 2020, when they (the Opposition) came with big trucks and gave you stove, fridge, washing machine, dryer, microwave, pillow, and pillowcase: take it – and vote solidly for the People's National Movement,” he urged.

He shifted his focus to community matters, saying the new La Horquetta community centre is about 80 per cent complete and a new two-storey library is 90 per cent finished.

He discussed ongoing works in the Jacob Hill/Wallerfield and Greenvale areas, saying the government has commissioned the construction of community centres in each.

Addressing youth delinquency in the area. Cummings said, “La Horquetta streets during the day, around 9-10 am, are filled with many young people liming on the block, doing precious nothing with no proper direction in life.”

But he announced that next week the government will break ground in Phase 4 for a youth development centre, not just for La Horquetta residents but also for neighbouring communities.

“Young people will have an opportunity.”

Cummings also spoke about recent programmes, such as the Shadehouse, Homestead Programme and DROP Programme, emphasising the government's focus on young people as he urged them to “come forward and take responsibility for your country.”

In response to criticism that the government is only implementing programmes for young people “north of the Caroni River” and doing nothing in south and central regions, he said.

“The qualification is to be a young citizen of TT, no matter your race, creed, colour, or class,” he stressed.

He went on to highlight several other programmes based in various areas outside North Trinidad.

“We continue to keep our young people as our focus because we are investing in the future of TT. It is an all-hands-on-deck approach by the government to tackle a problem that confronts us all. How do we get our young people, the future of this country, engaged in the productive sector?”

A scan of the mature crowd while Cummings delivered his speech showed people talking among themselves.

He added that a new swimming pool will be built behind his constituency office, saying the existing pool is over 40 years old and “breaking down.”

Cummings joked that the Prime Minister had nicknamed him Oliver after Charles Dickens’ famous character, Oliver Twist, because he is always begging for his constituency.

He said Cabinet had approved 225 microgrants of $20,000 each for entrepreneurs, in collaboration with NEDCO, which will train business owners in financial responsibility and business planning.

The event, which began at 6 pm, saw the PM's arrival at 7.14 pm, his entrance cutting short a performance by the Shiv Shakti dancers. After a brief pause and rousing applause, the dancers resumed once Dr Rowley was seated.

Rowley began by criticising media coverage of the PNM's convention and university lecturers who, he believes, do not engage with the party's activities. He defended the PNM's role in shaping the National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform's report, arguing that the party's perspective is crucial.

He dismissed critics who suggested the government's stance on reform is irrelevant.

During his address, some members of the audience began leaving their seats, making their way towards the food table, The food service was temporarily halted, with distribution resuming after the PM's speech.

Rowley also responded to critics of his announcement to replace Christopher Columbus's three ships on the national coat of arms with the steelpan. He disagreed that the change would alienate the Indian community.

He said the steelpan is indigenous to TT, unlike instruments such as the tassa, which originated elsewhere.

“The singular reason why the steelpan is our national instrument is because it is indigenous to us! The tabla is not an originating instrument from here, it came from India, saxophone came from Germany, the guitar from Spain, so they cannot, no matter how often you play them, no matter how much you love the music, you cannot claim them as a national instrument,”

He highlighted prominent pan players of East Indian descent, such as Bobby Mohammed and the Samaroo family, to illustrate the steelpan is a unifying national symbol.

Rowley reiterated that the government's decision to replace the ships had been under discussion since 2022.