Janet Silvera
Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:
Dissatisfaction and distrust are among the reasons Trinidad and Tobago's Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), has cited for its pull out of the People's Partnership government.

The MSJ reportedly sent shockwaves through the twin-island republic this morning when it confirmed speculations of a split.

The announcement was made during a press conference in Port of Spain.

MSJ's political leader, David Abdulah in a statement earlier today, said expectations of change have been replaced by a sense of disappointment and cynicism.

"The faces of those in charge have changed while the old system of governance created and maintained by the PNM (People’s National Movement) over four decades has remained essentially intact," Abdulah said.

Criticizing the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led government, Abdulah said his party felt the Partnership, formed in 2010, while far from perfect, offered the possibility of beginning to effect some progressive changes in governance.

He said his party had two primary reasons for joining the Partnership, and while the first objective had been accomplished, the second seemed thwarted by powerful elements in the Partnership who are very happy with the existing system once they are in charge.

However Abdulah did not offer specific cases.

He said for the “powerful” involved in the Partnership, it was not about changing the system of governance but rather changing faces because it is “we time now”.

He says the MSJ does not see this approach to politics and governance being altered in the near future.

Convinced the time has come for the MSJ to paddle its own canoe, the party leader said it was pivotal to build a mass party that is non-ethnic and which does not depend on the largesse of either the state or powerful financiers.

He however admitted this was not an easy task.

"We could have taken the line of least resistance and gone with the flow, but we have decided that if we truly believe in changing the governance of the country we must now walk the talk” Adbulah said.

“We must not only speak truth to power, we must build a new centre of power around the truth!"

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com