The Mayaro executive of the United National Congress said they “stand firmly and resolutely in support and endorsement of our political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the National Executive”.
This follows a call by Mayaro MP Rushton Paray for new blood at the helm and for the opposition leader to call internal elections in June, when it is due.
The statement by the Mayaro executive added: “We can also attest to the fact that our party has been founded upon strong and resilient democratic principles and traditions which has (sic) never been compromised. This is evidenced by the ‘one man one vote’ mechanism which ensures that all members are afforded the opportunity to participate in all activities and elections of the party.
“We are therefore confident our political leader and national executive will continue to preserve, protect and adhere to all the provisions enshrined in our party’s constitution in the interest of our membership.
“In the meantime, just like our fellow constituency executives, we are focused on mobilising and putting our electoral systems in place as we prepare for a general election to remove and get rid of this most corrupt, incompetent, insensitive and wicked PNM Government. We stand ready and committed to working with our political leader, the national executive and other arms of the party in realising these objectives, not only for our membership but the wider society. We are also of the firm view that unity will prevail and the UNC and Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar will rise again.”
Responding in a statement to the Mayaro executive’s move, Paray said they were exercising their democratic right to have a position on any party matter.
“It’s the right of each person to exercise their democratic right to have a position on any party matter. I will defend my colleagues’ right to their position all the time. At the same time, the rights of the thousands of ordinary members to have the constitutionally due Natex elections date called must be respected,” he said.
Paray has been MP since 2015.