Analyst: ILP-NAR alliance facing an uphill battle Even though the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) and the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) have joined forces, becoming a formidable entity in Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape will be an upward battle. This is according to political analysts Dr Winford James and Bishnu Ragoonath in separate interviews with the Express. “There is always hope that a third force can bring a new kind of politics to Trinidad and Tobago, as the NAR, the COP and the ILP, the latest incarnation, attempted to bring new politics,” said James. The ILP, he said, while was embraced in Chaguanas West, it was not nationally as the party did not manage to gain control of any of the 14 municipal corporations in the local government elections. James noted that although the ILP received over 100,000 votes, the political system of the country was based on number of seats won and not number of votes received. “The NAR has been lying if not dead, certainly moribund,” said James. “We have a party that has been rejected at the polls, tested the waters and not gotten the support, and one that is lying moribund,” he added. “They face quite an uphill struggle to get the support of the electorate and the (People’s) Partnership has given coalitions a very bad name, so it’s going to be difficult for people to trust new expressions of hope,” said James. Ragoonath questioned whether the NAR was even alive. “What is the NAR? Because that party has not contested an election...I’m not sure if it is operating as a political force in the country. While it may exist in the minds of very few people and in that context I do not see this as being a significant alliance,” said Ragoonath. He said if the NAR was a significant political force, it would have been embraced in the People’s Partnership coalition long ago. “They can form an alliance but the question is, what is the NAR bringing to the table...we know what the ILP has based on its performance in the last election. “The NAR at this point in time reminds me of the MSJ (Movement for Social Justice)—it’s a good philosophy, a good ideology, but as to whether it is bringing people to the table and membership to the parties, I am left to wonder,” said Ragoonath. On Sunday, NAR leader Dr Carson Charles spoke at the ILP’s first national convention at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya. ILP leader Jack Warner announced the two parties will come together to form a “grand alliance”. Charles is chairman of the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco), which falls under the purview of Works and Infrastructure Minister Suruj Rambachan. Charles told the Express briefly yesterday that he met with Rambachan but did not discuss politics. (Source: Trinidad Express)
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 12:00:01 +0000
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