Independent Liberal Party (Trinidad and Tobago)

The Independent Liberal Party is 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.

Independent Liberal Party
LeaderRekha Ramjit
ChairpersonRekha Ramjit
FounderJack Warner
Founded7 July 2013 (2013-07-07)
Split fromUnited National Congress
Colors     Green
House of Representatives
0 / 41
Local districts
0 / 136
Local municipalities
0 / 14
Website
www.ilptnt.com//

Founder Jack Warner resigned in September, 2015 following the party 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 10th October 2015 internal party election.[1]

Campaigns

Chaguanas West by-election 2013

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.

 Candidates for the July 29, 2013 Trinidad and Tobago By-Election in Chaguanas West
Candidate Political Affiliation Popular vote
Votes % ±%
Jack Warner Independent Liberal Party 12,642 69.09% -
Khadijah Ameen United National Congress 5,130 28.1% -
Avinash Singh People's National Movement 426 - -
Kirk Meighoo Democratic National Assembly 35 - -
Oliver Norman National Coalition for Transformation 21 - -
Total Votes 18,299 67.66%
Registered Voters 27,045
Sources: Trinidad and Tobago Elections and Boundaries Commission

2013 Local Government Elections

The party contested 136 electoral districts in the local government elections on October 21st 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 6th, 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
 Summary of the 7 September 2015 House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago election results
Parties Votes % Seats
People's National Movement378,44751.68%23
People's Partnership Coalition 341,59746.64%18
Independent Liberal Party5,1230.70%0
Others7,1730.98%0
Total valid votes 732,340 100.00 41
Invalid/blank votes 2,452––
Total (turnout 66.84%) 734,792100
Source: EBC

The party contested 26 out of 41 seats in the 2015 General Elections held on 7th 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

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

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]

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gollark: The obvious solution is to AP everything you have right now.

References
  1. Rampersad, Sharlene (2015-10-11). "Rekha Ramjit is new ILP leader". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Online. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  2. Fraser, Mark (2013-10-24). "Highest Voters Ever". Trinidad and Tobago Express. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  3. "Warner ordered to pay $430,000 more to councillor". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  4. "Jack Warner reenters politics, to contest upcoming election". www.looptt.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  5. "Jack's last campaign; other small parties soldier on". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  6. "Rekha Ramjit resigns as Political Leader of the ILP". www.looptt.com. Retrieved 2020-08-16.


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