Skip to playerSkip to main content
CCNTV6
  • 10 months ago
As we continue our coverage of the PNM screening of prospective candidates at Balisier House for four constituencies, we have the candidate for Port of Spain South, Keith Scotland.
Transcript
00:00The process was very democratic, it was very interesting, and even though I was the sole
00:08unanimous nominee for Port of Spain South, I was questioned by the screening committee
00:14and I think I answered creditably.
00:16Now of course this is a PNM stronghold, right, so we expect you to be the next MP going forward
00:21regardless of the election results, whatever it is, so you'll be the next MP going forward.
00:25What more could you do for your constituents?
00:28Firstly, I do not count any eggs in any elections before they are hatched.
00:35So although I will do the work, I don't take that for granted and I don't take the constituents
00:41of Port of Spain South for granted to say that it's a PNM stronghold.
00:45It is as strong as the work that I put in and I will put in the work.
00:49What I want to do better this round is to bring some more resources to the people of
00:53Port of Spain, but I have a message for them.
00:56I want the young men and young women of Port of Spain South to take advantage of the opportunities
01:02that will be provided for them.
01:05In three months' time, I'm opening a centre for the young people at Basilong Street.
01:11It is a $16 million centre where we have vocations such as barbering, IT, electrical, plumbing,
01:22acting, and that is a facility that I want to see populated by the people of Port of Spain South.
01:31My recollection, Basilong Street, the community centre, had been in existence for a little while...
01:35No, this is a new multi-purpose centre that is now being opened for the people of Port
01:43of Spain South and the young people.
01:45The centre at Citrus Grows, that lavender centre there, which is now part of my constituency,
01:51I was tasked with ensuring that the people, the young people of Port of Spain South, come
01:58and utilise the courses that are offered, the metal courses, the courses in plumbing,
02:03the courses in mechanics, and that will be my main thrust going forward.
02:09And if we were to just chat a little bit about your ministership, do you expect to
02:14be handed over that ministry in full now, National Security, given that Mr. Hines has
02:20indicated that he will no longer be involved in politics?
02:23My philosophy that I got from my mother, I did not put down a ministry anywhere.
02:28That was willed to me.
02:30In whatever capacity I am asked to serve, I will serve.
02:35In the Ministry of National Security, we are now making some strides, very slowly,
02:40because it's an all-hands-on-deck approach, but I think that the country, in considering
02:46the move of the state of emergency, may want to consider giving this government a passing
02:51green.
02:52Murders have gone down by 50% when you do the comparison to the last year.
02:57At the same time, you can see that there's an increased police presence that started
03:01with my joint task force, one that was in collaboration with the police force.
03:06On Friday, we visited some very critical areas in Caranage and Degomartin with the Commissioner
03:13of Police.
03:14I hope you all know about that.
03:15And we will be continuing that interaction with the public throughout to try to get back
03:21the community.
03:22And finally, if I may, we saw that the Prime Minister, at the anniversary celebrations
03:26over the weekend, he touched on the very, some people say, dicey topic of race and ethnicity,
03:34but in a healthy way.
03:35If we could healthily discuss that aspect, can you add it to his statements about not
03:42looking at race, not looking at ethnicity, in terms of leadership?
03:46What would you say to the PNM supporters?
03:48What would you say to the country at large?
03:51To have a conversation like that, we start with fundamental principles, and we start
03:58with the fundamental principles as enshrined in our constitution, which recognizes equality.
04:04That's the first thing.
04:05But go one step further.
04:07What does our national anthem say?
04:09Hear every creed and race, find an equal place.
04:13I find it, for my view, I find it very, very disturbing that that conversation will get
04:20traction, because we are now going in 2025.
04:26We've been independent for so long, since 1962, republicanism since 1976.
04:32Our first Governor General, Sir Solomon Hochoy, was obviously of mixed race.
04:40When you look at what has transpired in this country, what do you expect, other than a
04:48party that holds true to the constitution of Trinidad and Tobago?
04:53This party can boast that out of its bowels came someone who has shown that he is capable
05:01of doing what needs to be done, and he has been selected.
05:06And I think that race as a card and as a detraction is not something that I am warm to.
05:14In fact, I want to leave you with the words of Slinger Francisco.
05:19In this day and age, remember we passed that stage.
05:24MP and of course Minister, let me thank you so much for chatting with us and all the best to you.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment