PEP, independent candidates: Don't count us out in Chag East

They are fighting a government minister and a sitting mayor for the Chaguanas East seat. Still, two newbies in the political arena gave themselves high ratings for winning at the polls on August 10.

Businessman Robert Mathew Gibbs, from the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP), and independent candidate Shiraz Khan do not feel threatened by their opponents.

The PNM’s Clarence Rambharat, the Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries Minister, and Chaguanas mayor the UNC’s Vandana Mohit are also contesting the seat.

Gibbs said he intends to get the community working again by alleviating issues like flooding and traffic. His plans also include working with businesspeople in developing their businesses.

"My target is the youths – they are our future. We have children graduating into unprecedented unemployment. That must stop. I want to provide policies that will cushion that blow of student loans. We need to put things in place to provide for our future," Gibbs said.

"Chaguanas East needs strong representation, somebody with a progressive vision and values to carry constituency in the future. I am that person. Nothing has been done to really improve the standard of living in the constituency."

Gibbs, a sales and marketing executive, is also a constituent. He told Newsday that feedback on the ground has been excellent. Constituents are endorsing him, Gibbs said.

"My edge over the others is that constituents look at me as one of them. I know their cries, their problems, because I face them too," Gibbs said. "They are happy that I can carry forward their voices. Even before entering politics, I have been involved with the community and charitable works."

Once he can assist people and put a smile on their faces, he is contented. He said he does not need fame and exposure.

Gibbs is also not interested in the perks of being an MP if elected.

"Once in office, I would not need the (Toyota) Prados, the police protection. I have my own vehicle, which I would use. I will stand my own gas bills," Gibbs said. "I can take care of myself. I am willing to give up a plate of food to feed someone else. That’s my stance in life."

The father of one said he was drawn to the PEP because there are accountability and transparency at every level. The party’s policies provide a platform for representatives to give back to the community, and the grassroots people are taken care of, he said.

Like Gibbs, Khan, who is throwing his hat into the political ring for the first time, hopes to improve the standard of living for constituents. Khan, president of the TT Farmers Union, said he hopes to disrupt the status quo of corruption and ineptitude.

"I am getting a lot of positive responses. A lot of people believe that I am in the race. I am in front of all the rest and almost to the finish line," Khan said. "My intention to get in this is to be the game changer and make a difference in TT."

He had done many walkabouts but has opted not to use loudspeakers yet as a form of respect to his Muslim brother and sisters. For Muslims, this is the month of Zul Hujja: the month of the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, which was cancelled owing to the pandemic.

"A lot of people cannot go to the holy land...Normally, locals would have left three weeks ago for the journey. Now that that cannot go on, many more people will be sacrificing their animals on Friday."

He charged that in politics, when the leader talks, the members/supporters who oppose his/her view often feel his/her wrath. Considering himself the Chaguanas East MP, Khan said all the other MPs must report to the supreme leader, meaning the political leader.

Khan said, "I don’t have that problem. Those elected into Parliament do not do their jobs. They talk about who is corrupt, who has an outside child. I hope to make the change."

At Pointe-a-Pierre, there is a four-way fight between the PNM’s Daniel Dookie, MSJ’s David Abdulah, UNC’s David Lee, and newcomer Marvyn Lynden Howard, of the PEP.

Howard, a self-employed father of three, said he was born and bred in the constituency. He said he chose PEP because it has the best policies compared to other parties. Howards who lives at Plaisance Park, said he is displeased about the direction the country has been going. He joined the party shortly after Phillip Edward Alexander formed it.

"Once the people are truthful to me, I stand an excellent chance of winning. The main issue is unemployment, followed by the lack of water and poor road conditions," Howard said. "I will do what is necessary within my power to fix the problems. They are not hard to fix once the resources are available. I am not giving any false promises."

He claimed the former MP,the UNC's Dr David Lee, hardly visited the area to find out the woes of constituents.

"Now that the election bell has rung, they (opponents) are in the area. Lee won in 2015 because he was the only real option. We (PEP) did not contest that election."