?The Oilfield Workers Trade Union has congratulated new UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her recent victory. The union's president Ancel Roget also congratulated the party's membership for taking a bold and historical step and move away from the traditional culture of voting. In a statement Roget said "the people have spoken." He said it sent a clear message that people were ready for a new type of politics. He also advised the party's membership to encourage their respective parliamentary representatives to give their new political leader their unequivocal support in Parliament as Leader of the Opposition. Some MPs were resisting a move to have Persad-Bissessar replace party founder and former political leader Basdeo Panday as Leader of the Opposition. Roget said amidst the feeling of euphoria, there were critical questions regarding how the system of governance would be changed. He said over the years there had been many political changes in the parties that have assumed the role of government.
However, he added, while faces had replaced the old, the system of governance remained the same. 'The society is crying out for good leadership and good exemplars to take the country forward." Roget said the old system of governance with dictatorship and corrupt politicians, clinging to power at all cost, must now give way to a new and dynamic approach, where the interest of the people must be respected and, where country must be placed first and foremost." Unfortunately, he said, this could be found in any of the current political parties, regardless of how they presented themselves. "It is for this reason that there now may be an opportunity with Kamla as the new leader of the UNC to work with other progressive groups to begin the building process to rescue Trinidad and Tobago under a completely new order. "Anything else will be just a continuation of our past mistakes and will fail miserably," he added.