“Vote for change. Vote for the United National Congress!”
These were the stunning words of former People’s National Movement (PNM) attorney general John Jeremie, SC, who made a shocking appearance on a United National Congress (UNC) platform in Penal last night, saying he was voting UNC on April 28.
In a bold endorsement of “patriot” Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the UNC, Jeremie declared that life under the PNM has not improved over the past decade.
“Let’s face it, I am the last man you would expect to see here tonight,” Jeremie said in beginning speech at a public meeting at Bhupsingh Park, in Persad-Bissessar’s constituency.
In her address at the meeting, Persad-Bissessar said the UNC welcomes Jeremie as she disclosed she was moved to tears.
“I had to bow my head for a minute, John, because tears came to my eyes with the words that you shared with us today. You would not know how much they mean to me and I know that my UNC family will welcome you with open arms,” she said.
Jeremie, a former senator, served as Attorney General under the Patrick Manning administration from November 2003 to November 2007 and again from May 2009 to May 2010.
In his address at the meeting, the former AG urged citizens to abandon “race voting” and confront the realities of Trinidad and Tobago.
“Tonight, I want to say a couple things to you. First, it is time for us as a people to stop the race talk and the race voting. The newspaper on Saturday was full of it, and it did not come from the UNC platform. It came from a PNM platform,” he said.
He continued as the crowd cheered, “At a meeting in Chaguanas last Wednesday it was said that the UNC was using black Trinidadians to spread a message of division and hate. Tonight as an educated black man with a certain degree of academic and national accomplishments I stand here in front of you to endorse the United National Congress.”
Recognising Prof Selwyn Cudjoe and former PNM government minister Kennedy Swaratsingh, who were also in the audience, Jeremie adding that he also speaks for them on this matter.
“Second, I urge you and the viewing public to take a good, hard look at the state of our country today. I ask you to look at honestly at what is going on. To say that this country is in crisis is an understatement. The criminal element is threatening to overwhelm us all. That is not my conclusion, it is the conclusion of the present Government, which declared that a state of emergency existed in this country several months ago,” he added.
‘Economy beyond crisis’
Pointing out that the quality of life in the country has significantly deteriorated, Jeremie said:
“The economy is beyond crisis. We have basically spent all of our reserves in the past ten years, and all the economic and social indicators suggest that we are in a place beyond crisis.
“And so tonight we stand together at a junction in our history and on the eve of a very important general election. I ask you a couple of questions. The first is a question that has been asked before of a population faced with the choice that faces you on 28th April: Are you better off today than you were ten years ago?” he said as the audience shouted “no!”
Jeremie said the answer to the question must honestly be no.
He continued: “I then ask another question. Are you going to continue with those who have driven us to the point of crisis?” The audience again shouted “no!”.
“The logical answer must be no. And so, my brothers and sisters, I urge you the viewing public to do as I will on the 28th of April: I will vote for change. I will vote for the United National Congress,” he said as the crowd erupted in loud support.
Jeremie added, “I urge you to ask your friends to do so. I will. I urge you to ask your relatives to do so. I will. I urge you to ignore the race talk and those who will divide us on the basis of race. Give yourselves and your children a chance to change our future.”
Serving T&T
Jeremie said that he fought “bitter battles” in Parliament against many who were seated at the UNC meeting.
“I understand that in our culture it is frowned upon to change loyalty. I am fully aware of all of the ways that I can be harmed for where I stand tonight and I gain nothing.
Declaring himself a “patriot,” Jeremie reflected on his deep roots in the PNM.
“I was a child of the People’s National Movement. My deceased mother worked for the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Eric Williams… As a child, I spent hours in a room at Whitehall outside of the office of Eric Williams, waiting for my mother to finish work,” he said.
He shared that he became a member of the PNM while at university, and years later, served the party loyally in Parliament.
Jeremie noted that just two weeks ago, his PNM colleagues publicly praised his work as AG during a meeting at Harris Promenade in San Fernando.
He emphasised that the country has always come first for him, adding that he has fought against corruption both within the PNM and the UNC.
Jeremie also shared a personal connection with Persad-Bissessar, recalling that she once taught him English at The University of the West Indies more than 30 years ago.
“Later, when she switched to Law and came to the Cave Hill Campus, she was—if memory serves me correct—pregnant and she struggled to attend lectures, so I was happy to lend her, my teacher, the notes that I had. She went on to finish top of the class at The University of the West Indies. Years later, we found ourselves on opposing sides, but both serving the people of Trinidad and Tobago in Parliament,” he said.
In praising Persad-Bissessar, he stated: “I view her, too, as a patriot. I view her as a mother, a grandmother, and a friend. A friend who has worked tirelessly in service of the people of our country.”
