I WISH to comment on the matter of chairman of the Congress of the People Joseph Toney's almost daily statements and mis-perceptions.

I am a foundation member of the COP and was there when the historic declaration was read by a young man from Tabaquite.

I was there on the walkabouts with Winston Dookeran and many others as the foundation for the COP was laid in very difficult soil.

The COP did very well over the years and has made significant strides in the politics of Trinidad and Tobago.

But the COP today is not the same as it was back then. The reason is simply that the people have left the party and have returned to the United National Congress and others are just fed-up with the constant attacks on the Government of which the COP is a part.

Sometimes I feel that the current executive of the COP would like to see us return to the benches of the Opposition and the PNM installed as the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. God forbid that this would happen.

I read over the weekend that the chairman is still saying that the People's Partnership Government will fail without the COP. This is the kind of rhetoric and politics we fought against. We fought to get into government and the COP on its own cannot at this time form the government.

The current arrangement with the UNC is the healthiest for the party and any inkling that there could be an alliance with the PNM will incur the wrath of the remaining membership and will send them running into the tent of the UNC.

Please Mr Chairman, on behalf of the remaining supporters of the COP, please stop the divisive rhetoric and join the Government in its efforts to once and for all correct the injustices we have suffered at the hands of the PNM. To do otherwise would be to suffer political alienation and the fostering of the further loss of support.

David Legendre

Arima