Clint Chan Tack and Corey Connelly
PRIME Minister Stuart Young says the PNM has evidence of efforts by the Opposition UNC to attempt to influence people to vote for its candidates and its coalition partners in the April 28 general election.
Young made this claim on April 5, as he supported statements made by PNM San Fernando West candidate Faris Al-Rawi about evidence of the UNC spending $1.5 million to influence poor and vulnerable people in the constituency to support it on April 28.
Al-Rawi made this statement after filing his nomination papers at the San Fernando North Community Centre on April 4.
"They (UNC) believe and we have the names and places of people that they are targeting because our intelligence is very good."
Al-Rawi said the constituents of San Fernando West could not be bought.
Addressing the media after touring a new $35 million San Fernando Fishing Centre at King's Wharf, San Fernando, Young said, "I was actually surprised that he (Al-Rawi) was conservative because what we are seeing...we are actually seeing the evidence."
He added what Al-Rawi spoke about was happening in other constituencies across the country.
"We are seeing it in La Horquetta/Talparo. You are seeing it in (Toco/) Sangre Grande. The type of behaviour that you are seeing. So if MP Al-Rawi says that, I am certain he is being conservative.
Young, who is also PNM chairman, claimed, "You are seeing influencers being paid $40,000 to start up with the opposition's messaging."
He added that the UNC's plans do not end there.
"You are also seeing and hearing people, all of a sudden doing all sorts of strange things."
Young claimed the PNM has evidence the UNC and its agents are using artificial intelligence to go on to government websites and PNM websites to create fake profiles and put out false comments.
Young said, "You are seeing an increase of people turning up, offering money to persons to vote and that is the reality."
The PNM, he continued, is not fazed by this.
"This country is going to decide who is the person best suited to lead us, who is the responsible government and certainly we will not engage in some of that irresponsible behaviour."
Young said it was ironic to hear Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar claim legitimate decisions made by Cabinet were in breach of election laws when the same could be said of the alleged actions of the UNC.
Young urged the media to stand by and look at this matter very carefully.
In a WhatsApp response, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar rejected Young and Al-Rawi's claims.
Persad-Bissessar urged citizens not to be fooled by the dirty tricks of the PNM.
She claimed, "Stuart Young was imposed on this nation. He was not chosen by the people."
Persad-Bissessar also claimed Young is clinging to power "with the help of lies, AI-generated filth, and a campaign designed to divide and distract."
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