United National Congress Chaguanas West MP Vandana Mohit has slammed MP Rushton Paray for “posturing” that serves to improve the People’s National Movement’s chances in the next general elections - and the UNC-controlled Sangre Grande Regional Corporation has slammed UNC MP Dr Rai Ragbir for calling for leadership elections.
This after Paray’s recent “power play” calling for UNC National Executive elections by June - and Ragbir’s support of that and his own call for leadership polls.
Mohit, in a statement, told off Paray.
“A political neophyte like yourself should have recognised that your pronouncements, albeit irrational, may serve to give impetus to the Government of the day, or is this your real objective? Your actions remind diehard UNC supporters of the legendary story as regards the Trojan Horse.”
She added, “A clarion call is directed to the Member of Parliament for Mayaro, Rushton Paray. Arising from your recent ill-timed and ill-conceived press briefing on Friday 22 March, 2024, why are you creating distractions to allow the PNM off the hook? Your actions can only redound to the benefit of the PNM, which ought to be the soul object of all our political fight.
“What is quite strange is that the executive elections are not due until June 2024 as per the party’s constitution. Your charade was promised on a self-belief that the National Executive sought to entrench themselves without adhering to the party’s democratic principles, which is and was totally unfounded and untrue.”
Mohit added. “Lest you forgot, a founding principle of the UNC, which at the time was a novel concept by any political party, that of, one man, one vote in party elections, was adopted. Despite at times the fractious nature of this concept, the UNC has steadfastly maintained and will continue to adopt this democratic principle.
“Further, the National Executive at present is strategising on defeating the PNM, who has almost brought this country to complete ruins by its invective measures. Such posturing by yourself serves to improve the chances of the PNM at the next elections.”
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Kenwyn Phillip, via statement, meanwhile targeted Rai.
“I speak on behalf of myself and all my UNC council members in endorsing the statement by Political Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, that the UNC is a very strong party with a history of abiding by our constitution.
“The political leader has a long track record of upholding our party’s constitution and our democratic ideals as a whole. The issue of internal elections does not arise at this time, because the party is and will be governed by its constitution, as the leader said. Anyone attempting to create distractions on this issue is therefore misguided and engaging in frankly questionable conduct.”
Phillip said under Persad-Bissessar’s leadership, the UNC retained the Sangre Grande corporation in Local Government elections and wrested an additional seat from the PNM.
“This is testimony enough for us in Sangre Grande to unequivocally pledge our continued support for Mrs Persad-Bissessar as our political leader to take us into general election.”
Citing Ragbir’s call in the T&T Guardian for leadership polls, Phillip said it was unfortunate that during the LG elections when the corporation was targeted by the PNM that the, “MP didn’t walk one day with any of our councillors. Since he became MP, he’s never met with any of our council members after numerous calls to meet with him from council members. Yet, he speaks about leadership!”
“I want to categorically state that he speaks on behalf of himself, not on behalf of the people of Cumuto/Manzanilla, who continue to stand with our political leader. Sangre Grande right now joins our political leader, focusing on the devastating, destructive failures of the Rowley Government. Anyone seeking to divert attention from these key national issues, minus valid reason, is engaging in total foolishness!”