By Sue-Ann Wayow
FORMER Member of Parliament for Cumuto/Manzanilla Dr Rai Ragbir is not fazed by any name-calling by candidates contesting the General Election.
Especially, when that candidate is a member of the United National Congress (UNC), the political party he resigned from.
On Saturday night, at a UNC campaign meeting in Mayaro, candidate for Tabaquite Sean Sobers endorsed the new UNC candidate for the constituency of Cumuto/Manzanilla Shivanna Sam.
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He said, “I know that in her contribution and in her time in Cumuto/Manzanilla she will demonstrate the real UNC steel that Cumuto/Manzanilla has grown accustomed to—save and except for Dr Ragbir being there for some time, passing through like a vagrant.”
In a Facebook post on Monday labelled “Some Things Never Change” Dr Ragbir thanked Sobers for reminded him why he stepped away from the party on March 19.
The reasons: “The name-calling. The backbiting. The desperate need to impress a failing cult leader instead of serving the people.”
“It’s all still alive and well. And apparently, if you stand on principle or dare to think independently, you’re no longer a comrade—you’re a “vagrant,” Dr Ragbir wrote.
He stated, “Let me be clear: I didn’t enter politics to chant slogans or curry favour. I entered to serve. I’ve treated thousands of patients across this country, stood with constituents during floods, health crises, and loss. That’s not “passing through”—that’s showing up. That’s commitment.”
Dr Ragbir continued, “If defending my former constituents and speaking truth to leadership makes me a political outcast, so be it. I’d rather be called a vagrant by Sean Sobers than be another “yes man” clapping on cue while the UNC continues to descend into chaos.”
He also said Trinidad and Tobago needed leaders not blind loyalists and encouraged the young people paying attention to the General Elections to always choose service over sycophancy.
“Stand for something. Don’t just stand in line behind someone,” Dr Ragbir advised.
