Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr says his support for the PNM and the UNC has produced kings. He was speaking on Wednesday night at the launching of the New National Vision (NNV) at First Street, San Juan. Before and during the meeting, there were calls for San Juan residents to come forward to address any issues they have in the community. Bakr likened his presence to “cockroach in fowl business.” Referring to UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Bakr said a woman should not lead a party. He said: “What is a woman doing leading these men? Your wife is ruling you? In Trinidad that is a ‘macomeh man’ or in Tobago she gives you ‘left-hand dumpling.’ The Bible says a man is the head of the house.”Bakr said he supported two parties during different election campaigns. He added: “I made the UNC (United National Congress). We put them in the corridors of power. Nothing about me is part of corruption.” He said the late Bernadette James visited him and told him she was being threatened. James was killed in a police mock anti-terrorist exercise in Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas, in 1987. “She saw them with the cocaine in the VIP Lounge. I ‘buss the mark’ on them. I testified all and ‘buss’ it up in Mt Hope Hospital,” Bakr said.He said the perpetrators were now advisers to men in high office or were dead. Bakr had the crowd laughing and agreeing with his statements: “Voting for the lesser of two evils;” “I put a snake in the balisier;” and “Daaga jump off the ship.” He said in 1985 the crime rate had been reduced because the Jamaat was on the streets. “They are wicked people. They can’t sleep when they know I am awake. They bringing all kind of Scotland Yard and even cloth yard, when all the time I was right here,” he said. Referring to the 1990 insurrection, Bakr claimed to be a patriot who was willing to give his life for his country.
