COP: No 'alliance' agreement yet signed

CONGRESS of the People (COP) interim chairman Lonsdale Williams  has said no alliance has been formalised involving the COP, in a statement on December 15.

His remarks followed banner headlines of an "alliance" after UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar hosted talks with several political parties and trade unions at the UNC headquarters in Chaguanas on December 12. She advocated "a coalition of interests."

Those present included MND leader Garvin Nicholas, PEP head Philip Edward Alexander and OWTU head Ancel Roget. Other invitees were the COP, HOPE party, and the Public Services Association (PSA), whose officials were not present when the media was there.

Those not invited were the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) led by Gary Griffith and Patriotic Front under Mickela Panday.

Newsday tried but was unable to contact Farley Augustine, head of the Tobago People's Party (TPP), to ask if it might join an alliance, given Persad-Bissessar's recently saying the UNC would field no candidates in Tobago in the 2025 general election.

Speaking for the COP, Williams said in the past 48 hours, much had been ventilated on an apparent agreement between the COP and UNC and other groupings.

"As chairman of the COP, I wish to clearly state that I am not aware of any such agreement being signed or alliance formalised.

"What I am aware of is that a conversation took place and nothing more."

Williams said whatever the COP does must be able to stand the scrutiny of the party's constitution, which acts as its guiding principles for good governance.

"At such a time as any agreements are made, we the executive will advise our membership and thereafter the general population.

"Having learned from our past shortcomings, we endeavour to do it right always.

He cited an old adage: a man has not learned anything unless it has changed him.

"We intend to show our beloved citizens that we are changed, having learned from our past actions."