WITH a general election due in about a year, the Prime Minister is positioning his political party as one which has always solved the problems of TT.
His argument came in an address to thousands of supporters during the PNM sports and family day at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on Sunday.
He said one of the issues his administration solved was the rebuilding and revamping of the ground.
[caption id="attachment_1092009" align="alignnone" width="1024"] PNM ministers Faris Al-Rawi, left, and Rohan Sinanan flex their muscles at a PNM sport and family day at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on Sunday. - Venessa Mohammed[/caption]
"The infrastructure was obsolete. It was outdated. It was uncomfortable but during the last administration, we took a decision not only to maintain or to rebuild but to completely replace the structure that was here in Skinner Park.
"And in a time of significantly reduced revenue, because we prioritised spending taxpayers' money on taxpayers' interest, we were able to build this Skinner Park facility during that very difficult period."
He said it was his administration's willpower that allowed the completion of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy which is now hosting matches for the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup. He said the previous UNC-led administration did not have such willpower and often made excuses about why the academy could not be completed.
"They said the ground could not hold a cricket pitch because the soil was bad and (former prime minister Patrick) Manning chose the wrong place to build the Brian Lara Academy.
"They said the structures were engineeringly unsound and if they had to be rectified it would cost $200 million. What did the PNM do? After you elected us we went back to that site and we built (finished) it for $80 million."
Additionally, he said his government commissioned a parliamentary committee to inquire into the $7 billion Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension project.
"On every occasion, we can point to how we have moved our country forward."
On Saturday, the PNM's general secretary Foster Cummings said the party opened nominations for candidates to contest the next general election for eight constituencies, all of which are held by the Opposition and some of which are considered marginals.
Chairman Stuart Young, however, said an election date had not yet been set.
On Sunday, during his address in which he made several jabs at the UNC, Rowley asked supporters to begin thinking about who they wanted to run the country.
[caption id="attachment_1092012" align="alignnone" width="1024"] PNM members take part in novelty events at a a PNM sport and family day at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on Sunday. - Venessa Mohammed[/caption]
"I ask you to standby. Wait for the call, because in the middle of the night, the dawn may not be too far away."
"Ladies and gentlemen, whenever they are ready – THA (Tobago House of Assembly) election, by-election, general election – we will beat them in the East, we will beat them in the West, we'll beat them in the North and we
