Interim political leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Jack Warner, described last month’s bye-election in Chaguanas West in which he was successfully re-elected as Member of Parliament (MP) as “a bruising, bitter battle” which he never wished to engage.
Four months ago, following allegations of corruption levelled against him by a FIFA investigation, Warner resigned from the United National Congress (UNC) and also as MP for the constituency and opted to return to the polls seeking re-validation by his constituents.
Warner gained a landslide victory over his former party colleague turned rival Khadijah Ameen Vice Chairman of the UNC who with Avinash Singh of the People’s National Movement also contested the seat.
“It was a fight we never wanted,” he told supporters at the end of his thank-you motorcade that took them through the entire Chaguanas West constituency before ending at Pierre Road Recreation Ground in Felicity, yesterday.
“It was a fracas, a melee, that we all could have done without.”
It was mere weeks after his rejection as a candidate by the UNC for the July 29 bye-election Warner formed the ILP and soon recorded their first victory as a political party. His campaign was based on his representation in the community over the last seven years.
In addressing his supporters, Warner added: “This afternoon my brothers and sisters we stand as pioneers challenging the old political past and blazing new frontiers that demand leaders who represent, act and perform on our behalf. This afternoon my people we stand together because we refused to buckle to party politics bought and paid for by special interests but instead we supported participatory politics which brings leaders closer to the membership. This afternoon my people we stand together because we are one family, one people not divided by race, creed, colour or religion; we stand together because we are one.”
The ILP was formed to return hope to a country in despair, to restore integrity in public office where among leaders there has been a pathetic moral lapse and to usher in light to a nation that has been plunged into darkness, Warner stated.
Warner gained a landslide victory over his former party colleague turned rival Khadijah Ameen Vice Chairman of the UNC who with Avinash Singh of the People’s National Movement also contested the seat.
“It was a fight we never wanted,” he told supporters at the end of his thank-you motorcade that took them through the entire Chaguanas West constituency before ending at Pierre Road Recreation Ground in Felicity, yesterday.
“It was a fracas, a melee, that we all could have done without.”
It was mere weeks after his rejection as a candidate by the UNC for the July 29 bye-election Warner formed the ILP and soon recorded their first victory as a political party. His campaign was based on his representation in the community over the last seven years.
In addressing his supporters, Warner added: “This afternoon my brothers and sisters we stand as pioneers challenging the old political past and blazing new frontiers that demand leaders who represent, act and perform on our behalf. This afternoon my people we stand together because we refused to buckle to party politics bought and paid for by special interests but instead we supported participatory politics which brings leaders closer to the membership. This afternoon my people we stand together because we are one family, one people not divided by race, creed, colour or religion; we stand together because we are one.”
The ILP was formed to return hope to a country in despair, to restore integrity in public office where among leaders there has been a pathetic moral lapse and to usher in light to a nation that has been plunged into darkness, Warner stated.
