Senior Political Reporter
If there are traitors aboard the United National Congress (UNC), they will face the same fate as Ravan during this season, said UNC MP Barry Padarath yesterday, as he expressed his support for party leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
This follows claims on Ian Alleyne’s Monday show “warning” Persad-Bissessar of a “conspiracy” by some Opposition members to “hijack” the UNC. It was claimed a “certain man is the ringleader” and has been rounding up MPs to get signatures to take to the President to remove Persad-Bissessar (as Opposition leader) and UNC senators are “involved”.
Persad-Bissessar did not comment on the claims, nor did UNC deputy leaders Roodal Moonilal or David Lee. UNC Deputy Leader Jearlean John meanwhile said she “didn’t know about these things”.
Some parliamentarians were unavailable, did not reply to Guardian Media queries, or said off the record they were loyal to the leader.
However, Padarath said, “I’m in full support of Mrs Persad-Bissessar and her leadership. Thousands of UNC members democratically elected her and I’m not a part of any conspiracy to undermine her or the party. She continues to have the confidence of myself and my constituents to lead the party successfully into the next general election.
“If there are those who aspire to leadership but take the coward’s route of undermining the party for personal and selfish reasons, the membership will deal with those pathetic cowards in due course. If there are traitors aboard, they too will face the same fate as Ravan during this season. There are those of us who are known fighters against PNM oppression in this party alongside Mrs Persad-Bissessar. We won’t be hijacked by any PNM infiltrators or Johnny-come-lately.”
MP Ruston Paray said, “There’s one leader of the party with a functioning national executive. The UNC’s constitution provides for (internal) elections when it’s due. The work of all MPs and councillors is to remove the PNM. I’m focused on matters of water, infrastructure and a collapsing business sector in Mayaro.”
Senator Damien Lyder said, “These (claims aired) are an absolute distraction once more from serious issues plaguing T&T under PNM governance. Every political entity will have issues internally, but Mrs Persad-Bissessar was democratically elected as UNC’s leader and has unanimous support in this regard. She has my full support.”
He added, “I’m not concerned by the ole talk but by PNM’s poor governance–the scourge of crime destroying our country, the increasing poverty level, and the worsening of the economy and erosion of forex supply.”
MP Rishad Seecheran said, “I’m committed to Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, as UNC’s leader.”
Senator David Nakhid said, “We have one leader duly elected by a democratic process ... Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the balance that holds this party together and makes us attractive nationally. All mischief makers and PNM operatives recognise this and that is why they have to resort to surreptitious means to disrupt an upward UNC flow under the political leader. And as my Aunt Twiggy would say—And is that!”
Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial said, “I’m piloting the motion in the Senate to annul the order seeking to exempt financial services for central and public bodies–that’s real news.”
UNC Senator Wade Mark did not respond.
MP Dinesh Rambally said he had no clue about the claims, nor did MP Rodney Charles.
Meanwhile, former UNC MP Ramona Ramdial felt “red herrings” from senior party members could be from Persad-Bisssesar herself seeking to ascertain who wants to challenge her in UNC’s 2024 internals.
“But those who wish to challenge her will only show their hand when the elections are called,” she said.