00:00The former trade unionist tells TV6 he has officially resigned from the MSJ, but there
00:07is no controversy.
00:09He says the constitution of both the MSJ and the UNC were respected and honoured in the
00:15move to the opposition party and its coalition of interests.
00:20There was speculation of tension between Elder and the MSJ earlier this week.
00:26US political leader for the party David Abdullah confirmed via news conference that both Elder
00:33and unionist Ernesto Kizar resigned.
00:36He further stated that both the ruling PNM and the UNC have used the approach of dividing
00:42workers during elections for their own political gain.
00:46However, Elder tells us he and Mr Abdullah have had talks.
00:51I did not inform the MSJ as to what the political plans were.
00:55I can tell you that I did have a discussion even before my name was announced with the
01:01political leader of the MSJ and he did in fact give me some pointers and what have you.
01:07And it's a matter of history now that we have in fact obeyed the constitution of both parties.
01:13When I say both parties, I speak about the MSJ as well as the UNC.
01:17Because as you know, there's also some controversy that was taking place over whether or not
01:21I'm a member of the UNC.
01:22So the short answer to that question is yes, I am.
01:24He admits there has been some pulling and tugging between politicians and Labour in
01:29the past.
01:30But, he says, they have learnt from those mistakes and are ready to utilise a new approach
01:36to dealing with disagreements.
01:38Will differences arise as we move forward?
01:40The answer is yes.
01:42Differences will arise.
01:44The differences, how do we meet and resolve those differences together?
01:49Some differences are easily resolved, some are not so easily resolved.
01:52But at the end of the day, we have to resolve the differences.
01:54Now, because of history, do we just put two hands up in the air and say, well, look, we
01:58know what happened and therefore we're not going to go forward again?
02:00Or do we adopt a mature approach and say, listen, let's let bygones be bygones.
02:06Let's forgive.
02:07We may not forgive, but let's forgive.
02:09Let's decide what we need to do differently this time.
02:11Let's do it differently and let's move forward.
02:13Elder says he's confident he will secure his seat at the polls.
02:18He adds that he has been well-received by the constituents.
02:21That there are persons who will pay them and who have said, Elder, I know you, I know you're
02:27a fighter, I know you care about people, I'm not voting party, I'm voting candidate, I'm
02:31voting you.
02:32I can also tell you that people who say, Elder, you put me in a hard spot, let me be in a
02:37party, but I can't, I can't see myself voting for UNC, but you put me in a hard spot.
02:42And I say to them, you let your conscience be your guide.
02:45If you know I'm going to do work for you, if you know me and you know you could contact
02:50me and call me and ask for help and I will be there to answer your call, then it's an
02:54easy answer as to what you need to do.
02:56He says he is not just a face going up for an election.
03:01He tells us his roots are in Libere.
03:04His mother still lives there.
03:05His nephews and other relatives also reside there.
03:09And he knows their struggles.
03:11I've lived the suffering of Libere people.
03:13When I grew up, when I went to school, I'm a success story.
03:16I did not have lights running water and telephone when I was going to school, as young as I
03:21am.
03:22You know why that is?
03:23Because this PM government never sorted fit to give anything good to Libere.
03:27He says the constituency is rich, providing asphalt, oil and gas for the economy.
03:34But yet the residents remain poor.
03:37Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
03:43For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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