Rushton Paray will be leading a slate called the United Patriots to contest the upcoming UNC internal elections. Paray, the Member of Parliament for Mayaro, is seeking to become the party’s deputy political leader. He also confirmed that Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes-Alleyne and Cumuto / Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir will be contesting the post of deputy political leader on June 15 under his slate. At present, MPs David Lee, Dr Roodal Moonilal and UNC Senator Jearlean John hold the posts of deputy political leader.
During an interview yesterday, Paray said his team’s symbol, which is the praying hands, is symbolic of the need to successfully challenge the People’s National Movement in the upcoming general election.
“We need to bring change, we need to bring positive change. The party organs in the UNC have weakened over the years and while I maintain that the UNC is the best political vehicle to take us to government, I still believe a strong party will give you a strong government and I have always said this exercise is not about removing the PNM alone you know it is about having the best possible team guide Trinidad and Tobago in the next 5, 10 15 years,” he said.
Paray added he was not concerned about any further fallout within the party following his move to contest the elections.
“I am worried about my country Trinidad and Tobago, I am worried about the future of my children, your children, my grand children to come...I am not worried about my political future and being sidelined and so on,” he said.
According to the party’s Election Management Committee, nominees contesting the elections had until 4 pm yesterday to submit nomination papers. The nomination papers will be returned to candidates on Thursday with certification or comments and any deficiencies to be corrected. Haynes-Alleyne said she hoped to get a chance to bring about change in the party as it navigates forward.
“I hope to bring to the table a reinvigorated UNC brand, as the public relations officer of the UNC in our party, the deputy political leader, the three of them take a responsibility for carrying the party’s torch and I’m looking specifically at party communication and what we deliver to the public in terms of our policies and how we communicate our policies,” she said.
Senior Counsel Larry Lalla will be contesting the post of Chairman under Paray’s slate. The incumbent is Dave Tancoo. Lalla said he decided to enter the race to help create a stronger and more credible UNC.
“I believe that the government over the past nine years has floundered and failed on every issue affecting our national life and change is necessary. Our citizens cannot continue living in fear for their lives and worrying about the future of their families as we all do. Secondly that change cannot come from the UNC as presently constituted. The UNC as presently constituted does not have the trust of the public and therefore a stronger more credible UNC is required to replace the government,” he said.
Lalla previously contested the posts of deputy political leader and chairman in 2015 under Dr Roodal Moonilal’s slate and in 2020 under Vasant Bharath’s slate respectively.
He said he admired the stance taken by Paray, Ragbir, Haynes-Alleyne, Dinesh Rambally and Rodeny Charles in speaking out for change in the UNC.
Others join call for change
Meanwhile, Paray said attorney Keil Taklalsingh is on his slate as well, “And all other positions will be filled.”
He didn’t give details, including if Taklalsingh will contest vice chairman, or if ex-MP Ramona Ramdial will be on his slate. Sources said others contesting will likely be councillors, chairmen and activists supporting Paray.
Paray said his other colleagues MPs Dinesh Rambally and Rodney Charles aren’t on his slate, “But they remain fully committed to my team in creating a stronger UNC for a better T&T.”
“They’re not going to win”- Moonilal, Tancoo
UNC deputy leader Dr Roodal Moonilal said, “All members are free to contest any position,” as he responded to the names of those on Paray’s slate.
Incumbent chairman Dave Tancoo said of his challenger Larry Lalla, “He isn’t new blood or a new face. He’s only been consistent with losing.”
At UNC’s Siparia meeting on Monday, Moonilal made reference to the upcoming UNC polls and detractors’ criticisms of the incumbents.
He said to those who were telling the UNC it couldn’t win, “I wanna tell them- they not going to win...they’re not going to win, they’re not going to win!”
“But tonight isn’t the platform for that. I hope we get the platform for that very soon because I saw a banner here (at the meeting) ‘The Stars are in alignment’...we must welcome the stars as well.”
The slates of UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the 2020 and 2022 Natex polls were named the Stars.