MSJ withdraws from T&T government

(Trinidad Express) The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) has removed itself as one of the five parties which form the coalition People’s Partnership government.

In a six-page statement released by the party today, political leader David Abdulah said the government was not about changing the system of governance, which was the original intent, but rather changing faces because it is “we time now”.

He added that his party did not see this approach to politics and governance being altered in the near future.

“It is in this context that the National executive and Activists Council of the Movement for Social Justice have decided that our party will remove itself from the People’s Partnership coalition of political parties. As a consequence of this the MSJ will not be in the government of Trinidad and Tobago and therefore I will be tendering my resignation as a Senator to the Prime Minister.

“We have not taken this decision lightly or easily. We recognise that we have a responsibility to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago as we were an integral part of the Partnership that campaigned in 2010 and asked you to vote for us to be your government. We do not regret that decision. It was the right thing to do at that time, as it is the right thing for us to now withdraw from the Partnership,” Abdulah said.

Last month the executive of the MSJ took a decision to remove all its members serving on state boards, except those serving on tri-partite boards. The party also absented itself from the government’s second anniversary rallies.