Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:
Seemingly unscathed by the decision of the Movement of Social Justice's (MSJ) to sever ties with the People's Partnership government of Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, says the action will strengthen her administration.

In a statement earlier today, MSJ's leader David Abdulah, who is also a senator, announced his party's intention to pull out the coalition government.

He cited disappointment and cynicism as two of the main reasons.

Responding to the much-publicized pull out, Persad-Bissessar said the list of demands made by Abdulah over the past few months were always impossible, unreasonable and reckless.

"It seems David's entrance into Government never allowed him the advantage of a national perspective. He remained trapped in isolationist thinking," the Prime Minister said.

Persad-Bissessar who has served as prime minister since 2010, said governance could not be negotiated like a Labour Union leader representing the interest of only one group.

"In Government your responsibility is larger than that; it seems not everyone can make the shift," she said.

Abdulah has accused her government of retaining the old system of governance created and maintained by the People's National Movement of some 40 years.

The MSJ leader argued that he didn't see the current approach to politics and governance being altered in the near future, so it was time for his members to paddle their own canoe.

But, Persad-Bissessar refuted these claims as vacuous and without a shred of evidence.

"We have established a more transparent and accountable Government than any other before. David's comments and criticism as a parting shot fired from the gun of a new political aspirant is an ambitious quest for power."

Meanwhile, at least one senior member of MSJ, Errol MacLeod has signaled his intention not to support his party.

MacLeod, the former MSJ political leader, who currently holds the post of Labour Minister told Trinidad's Network News that he would remain a member of the People's Partnership, despite his party's decision to leave the government.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com