A new political coalition has emerged to contest this year's general election.

A statement issued on social media on February 24 identified this coalition as the People's Alliance.

The members are the National Transformation Alliance (NTA), Honesty, Opportunity, Performance and Empowerment (HOPE) and the Community Reformation Network (CRN), a non-governmental organisation which works in Chaguanas, Cunupia and parts of East Trinidad.

The alliance will be launched at Mt Lambert, Eastern Main Road, on March 12 at 6.30 pm.

In a WhatsApp comment on February 24, NTA leader Gary Griffith said UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar's actions to date had "made our recruitment drive much easier."

Since 2006, he continued, the UNC has been split down the middle by the arrogance of some people who did not want the party to expand.

Griffith said this is what caused then party leader Winston Dookeran to form the Congress of the People (COP) in 2007.

He added Persad-Bissessar is now scrambling to solidify the UNC's base support.

Griffith said this is why she is talking about racial discrimination and profiling.

"That is what usually happens when you are in quicksand."

Griffith said Persad-Bissessar is causing "many (voters) who are on the threshold...who are on the outside...who are on the edge of being UNC supporters...to now leave.

He cited as an example the resignation of attorney Larry Lalla, a longstanding UNC member, from the party.

Griffith expected members of the UNC to attack Lalla as they would any other UNC member who disagrees with Persad-Bissessar.

While the NTA are not poachers, Griffith said the party has no problem meeting with former or disgruntled UNC members who share its principles.

"We would be free to have discussions and embrace them."

In a separate statement, HOPE chairman Steve Alvarez said the party has been working with the NTA, a number of other parties and patriots "to present a viable alternative to what is offered to the electorate as their only set of choices."

He hoped the launch of the alliance will encourage the population to support "a viable alternative to the two major political parties (PNM and UNC)."

Since last July, the NTA, HOPE and COP had been in talks to form a coalition. The three parties signed signed a memorandum of understanding last year. Kirt Sinnette was interim COP political leader at that time.

Prakash Ramadhar withdrew the COP from this arrangement when he was reappointed its political leader this year.

The alliance will be the second coalition contesting the election.

On December 12, Persad-Bissessar met with representatives of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP), Movement for National Development (MND), COP , Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU), Public Services Association (PSA), Postal Workers Union and the Fire Services Association to discuss a coalition against the PNM.

A subsequent "coalition of interests" (COI) was established between the UNC, PEP, Laventille Outreach for Vertical Enrichment (LOVE) leader Lennox Smith and som