By Sue-Ann Wayow
UNITED National Congress (UNC) member Anil Roberts has no problem debating the motion filed against the party’s leadership by Dr Fuad Khan.
Speaking on his “Doubles and Coffee” Facebook segment on Thursday, Roberts said Dr Khan became sour after contesting and losing the leadership post to Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the last internal elections. He challenged Khan to a debate.
He said, “Fuad, I accept. I want to hear you and I will debate you because of the lies and the nonsense because of sour grapes goes too far.”
Roberts, who is a UNC Senator and Northeast Regional Coordinator in the National Executive, hailed his political leader listing out her many achievements while prime minister between 2010 to 2015.
Wearing a UNC jersey in support of MP for Barataria/San Juan Saddam Hosein, Dr Khan’s successor, Roberts said the former MP must allow younger persons to be involved.
The motion filed by Dr Khan and seconded by Ramona Ramdial was not properly crafted, Roberts said.
The motion is asking for UNC members previously involved to once again be accepted into the party’s National Executive and asked that it be debated at the party’s National Congress on Sunday.
Robert said he hoped that it be allowed to be debated as he was volunteering himself to debate against Khan.
Motion mischief
Speaking at the Opposition’s press conference on Thursday, Dr Tim Gopeesingh said Dr Khan and Ramdial were creating “mischief.”
He said he has been working alongside the party’s National Executive and also pledged support of Persad-Bissessar.
Both Roberts and Dr Gopeesingh said Dr Khan and Ramdial should be attacking the People’s National Movement (PNM) instead of the leadership of their own party.
Dr Gopeesingh said, “This mischief that are being created by two members of the party, it is very sad to see whereas their attack should be on the People’s National Movement on Prime Minister Rowley and his Government who are creating enough hardships for the population.”
And in a release, UNC Treasurer Neil Gosine said that Khan’s motion was useless.
He said, “I want to say that Kamla Persad-Bissessar is not only fit and strong to run the party’s business and the opposition business; she has done so for the last 13 years becoming an icon in her own right and continues to be loved by her supporters in the UNC party. In fact more so as time goes by.
“While Dr Fuad suggestion seems absurd, no political party or figure is infallible however, Mrs Persad-Bissessar has done so well to be a leader at this time that it is even ludicrous to take the Rasta wig wearing ex MP seriously as his suggestion seems that it would come with more problems or dilemmas than solving anything at all.
“What is more important is that we have seen time and time again Mrs. Persad-Bissessar has gone to the polls to have internal elections and has come out a winner on every single occasion.
“She has once again gone to the party’s membership and was given a new mandate to lead the party into the next general elections and was given the mandate resoundingly.”
