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.
Comments