By Sue-Ann Wayow
UNITED National Congress (UNC) political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar wants to work with smaller political parties.
The UNC leader for the past 12 years declares that she is strong and ready to take on all opponents who want to topple her leadership, calling for unity in the party and out of the party to push the People’s National Movement (PNM) out of Government.
Speaking at the UNC’s National Congress on Sunday, Persad-Bissessar laid out the party’s plans for the rest of 2023 at the Couva Multi-Purpose Hall.
The former prime minister said, “I make a call for disaffected politically-minded persons to consider the UNC as the best home for them to joing rather than feeling the need for them to form multiple small opposition parties which will go now where.
“I know you all want a better T&T. Thers is a place for you in the UNC. I place for all you. If you want to keep your identity so be it, i have no issue with it but you must have discourse and work together.”
She said, “All our efforts must be now be spent on attracting new members and converting votes over the next two years. Potential members don’t want to see anger and dissent. They want to see professionalism. They want to see vision. They want to see unity.”
For the past few months, the UNC was engaged in discussions with people and groups who wants to contribute to a better Trinidad and Tobago.
“There are persons who may want to help T&T but they may not want to join a political party for whatever reason. However, they can vote. There are many persons who have ideas, expertise, they have training, they have an interest in helping and so we have to find that expertise.
“Bring them in behind closed doors or open doors everywhere. We must open the doors of the party to give these non-aligned people a voice,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She added, “I want to recommit to building the broadest and widest working group of persons UNC and non UNC to take Trinidad and Tobago forward whether it be this year in local government elections or whenever the general is called.”
Party and leader strong
Referring to the Marvel character Hulk who is known for his immense physical strength Persad-Bissessar said she felt like him.
“I am strong and ready to take on all comers,” she declared raising a fist in the air.
Last week, two UNC lifetime members Dr Fuad Khan and Ramona Ramdial filed had a motion to bring older members into the national executive turned down.
The motion stated that the post of political leader would not be contested should the UNC fail to reinstate pre-existing active members of the party.
It suggested that a new election be called to have other members get a chance at being a part of the national executive.
It was rejected and not allowed to be debated as requested.
During the congress on Sunday, Pundit Donny Samlal claimed he was assaulted as he attempted to present a motion for the removal of Persad-Bissessar as political leader.
Samlal said he too filed the motion with general secretary but got no response.
But Persad-Bissessar said she was not selected but elected.
She told supporters, “You gave me votes by the thousands and lead we will, right into victory whenever elections are called. We are not a one-woman team, we are a team of many, of great talent.”
The leader who is now in her seventies dismissed all claims that she was not healthy and fit to lead one of the largest political parties in the country.
“Don’t worry about me, I feel good. I feel like Hulk. I am strong and ready to take on all-comers,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar also dismissed all notions that the UNC was not democratic, allowing every creed and race to find a place in the party that has been predominantly made of members of East Indian heritage.
She said she had a wake-up call with racism when she was just 16-years-old, studying in England and a white English woman screamed at her when she attempted to hold her.
“That was my first encounter with racism. I discovered something, if you are not white, you are black. We are all black – all of us, black together, we are one people,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar added, “We are one family. It does not matter the colour of skin or texture of the hair. We have one purpose, one united UNC family.”
Mentioning Member of Parliament for St Augustine Khadijah Ameen, she said she along with many others had love, loyalty and dedication not just to party but for Trinidad and Tobago.
She said the suffering in the country currently was greater than any personal suffering the party’s membership felt.
“We must band together to remove this wicked Government and bring back good governance,” Persad-Bissessar said.
