PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC -The slight opposition Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) said on Tuesday that it will not contest the general election later this year.
MSJ leader David Abdulah told a news conference that the party, which has been unsuccessful in past local and general elections, will instead focus on building its capacity to govern effectively in the future.
“We do not believe we are in a position to do so in 2025, and therefore, we would focus on our building.”
Abdulah said the MSJ, closely aligned with the powerful Oilfield Workers Union (OWTU), had decided on Monday night that it was not ready for the electoral challenge but would continue advocating for citizens by engaging with the public and raising awareness about their rights.
He said that the party will also keep issuing statements on national issues.
The MSJ party participated on a limited scale in the 2013 and 2016 local government elections; Abdullah said that while the party expanded its presence in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered its progress, resulting in the party not having enough time to develop the desired level.
Abdulah said he would no longer serve as the party’s sole voice, emphasizing a shift toward delegation and specialized communication.
Abdulah said the entrance of the Gary Griffith-led National Transformation Alliance (NTA) and the Mickela Panday-led Patriotic Front (PF) into this year’s election race did not factor into the party’s decision to sit out the election.
The main opposition, the United Nations Congress (UNC), has said it is prepared to join a coalition with some minor opposition parties to unseat the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), which has been in office since 2015.
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