Independent Liberal Party (Trinidad and Tobago)
Independent Liberal Party | |
|---|---|
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| Founder | Jack Warner |
| Founded | 7 July 2013 |
| Dissolved | July 2023 |
| Split from | United National Congress |
| Merged into | United National Congress |
| Colors | Green |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Independent Liberal Party was a political party of Trinidad and Tobago. It was formed in July 2013, after Jack Warner was not reselected as the candidate for the Chaguanas West by-election for the United National Congress (UNC) party. It was launched at a political rally, in Jubilee Grounds, Pierre Road, Chaguanas.
Founder Jack Warner resigned in September, 2015 following the party's defeat in the 2015 general election. He was replaced by attorney Rekha Ramjit, who had previously served as the party's chairman, and who defeated Simeon Mahabir in a 10 October 2015 internal party election.[1]
Campaigns[edit]
Chaguanas West by-election 2013[edit]
Jack Austin Warner fought the Chaguanas West by-election on 29 July 2013, and won, beating out the closest candidate Kadijah Ameen by a 2 to 1 margin.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Warner | Independent Liberal Party | 12,642 | 69.26 | |
| Khadijah Ameen | United National Congress | 5,130 | 28.10 | |
| Avinash Singh | People's National Movement | 426 | 2.33 | |
| Kirk Meighoo | Democratic National Assembly | 35 | 0.19 | |
| Oliver Norman | National Coalition for Transformation | 21 | 0.12 | |
| Total | 18,254 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 18,254 | 99.75 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 45 | 0.25 | ||
| Total votes | 18,299 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 27,045 | 67.66 | ||
| Source: EBCTT | ||||
2013 Local Government elections[edit]
The party contested 136 electoral districts in the local government elections on October 21, 2013. They won 102,918 votes and 3 seats: two at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation and one at the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation.[2] During the elections for both Mayor and Deputy Mayor at the deadlocked Chaguanas Borough Corporation on November 6, 2013, one of the elected ILP councillors, Faaiq Mohammed chose to vote for UNC candidate Vandana Mohit over the ILP's candidate Falisha Isahak citing 600 constituents signed a petition objecting to the appointment of Isahak. Mohammed was accused by Warner for taking a $2.5 million bribe from the UNC and was expelled from the ILP. A defamation claim was brought against Warner that Mohammed won in 2014.[3]
2015 general elections[edit]
The party contested 26 out of 41 seats in the 2015 General Elections held on 7 September 2015 but failed to win a seat. As a result of the party defeat at the polls, Warner resigned as political leader of the ILP.
2016 Local Government elections[edit]
The ILP offered only seven candidates but lost all of their seats during the 2016 Local Government Elections. They did not contest the 2019 local government elections.
2020 general elections[edit]
Founder Jack Warner announced that he would re-enter politics and contest the Lopinot/Bon Air West seat for the August 10th general elections.[4] Despite expressing strong confidence that he could win the seat and possibly be the tie-breaker in the event of an electoral deadlock, Warner lost to People's National Movement (PNM) candidate Marvin Gonzales. After the People's National Movement declared victory at the polls, Warner announced his retirement from politics[5] while the political leader of the ILP Rekha Ramjit resigned.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Rampersad, Sharlene (2015-10-11). "Rekha Ramjit is new ILP leader". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Online. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ Fraser, Mark (2013-10-24). "Highest Voters Ever". Trinidad and Tobago Express. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ "Warner ordered to pay $430,000 more to councillor". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
- ^ "Jack Warner reenters politics, to contest upcoming election". www.looptt.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
- ^ "Jack's last campaign; other small parties soldier on". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
- ^ "Rekha Ramjit resigns as Political Leader of the ILP". www.looptt.com. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
External links[edit]
- Official website Archived 2015-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
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