While not directly responding to a rejected motion brought by two former MPs, United National Congress (UNC) political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar claimed yesterday that there were some who wanted to return to a system within the party where the “big boys” treated the membership like sheep.
Last week, former MP Fuad Khan filed a motion proposing that the old guard of the party be welcomed back into the fold, among other things, without removing Persad-Bissessar as political leader. The motion was seconded by former MP Ramona Ramdial.
However, UNC general secretary Peter Kanhai said it didn’t qualify to be raised at the convention.
Persad-Bissessar told UNC members it took her ten years to rearrange and streamline the party from a one-man show and hereditary aristocracy to a meritocracy.
“So, when you hear people speaking about they wanting to help rebuild the UNC, it is really the hereditary aristocracy based on class, caste, segregation, discrimination and family, that’s what they want to rebuild. Bring back the old guard, bring the man and his daughter and his wife. That is not the UNC. The UNC is about the rank and file and the children of the rank and file. When you hear they speaking about the NAR take over the UNC, what they are really saying is that there is now so much diversity in the leadership of the UNC and they want a return to the hereditary aristocracy.”
Persad-Bissessar said she used to sit in UNC meetings and witness “the big boys treating the membership like sheep.”
She told party supporters: “The membership was only good to wave flag and clap.”
She said she had vowed then that when she became leader she would promote those who worked hard and reject the politics of caste, class family connections, segregation, discrimination and dynasty.
Persad-Bissessar urged members to conduct themselves with love and loyalty.
“When you look at the other party, the hereditary aristocracy is in full control. No merit and you become President because the dynasty is there,” she said.
