Mayaro MP Rushton Paray’ s bold move to demand UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar call the Natex election when it’s due in June, is being seen by many including political scientists as potentially political suicide.
Since Paray’s call, at the Couva Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce Conference Hall on Friday, twelve United National Congress (UNC) MPs have so far thrown their support behind political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Naparima MP Rodney Charles who has already signalled his intention to bow out of electoral politics after his present term and Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Rai Ragbir have publicly supported Paray and have given him their support.
One of the most powerful voices in the UNC, deputy political leader and Oropouche East MP, Dr Roodal Moonilal assured that internal elections will be held according to the party’s constitution :“There has been no discussion or decision to postpone any elections. Regrettably, MP Paray had a public discourse on this matter, which is premature and can only seek to destabilise and undermine the party and, in so doing, fully assist fully the PNM.” Dr Roodal Moonilal expressed his “total support” for the party’s political leader and colleagues on the national executive. He added: “We have all functioned to optimal capacity and exerted an intensity that led to a well-received victory in the last local government elections.
Barataria San Juan MP Sadam Hosein stated he remained steadfast and committed in his support for Persad-Bissessar as the political leader of the UNC and, by extension, the official Opposition Leader in the country’s Parliament. Hosein said all arms of the party’s machinery were preparing to confront the imminent general election to remove the current Government, but certain officials were trying to distract from that goal. Hosein added that through “hard work, loyalty, commitment, dedication, and more importantly, dependable leadership skills, Mrs Persad Bissessar has provided the most robust opposition to the PNM Government”.
Princes Town MP Barry Padarath said Paray’s attacks against the political leader were unwarranted and baseless. Support for Mrs. Persad Bissessar also came in a public statement from MP for Fyzabad Dr Lackram Bodoe who supported Persad-Bissessar in a statement yesterday. He said: “I pledge my full support for political leader Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar as leader of the UNC and as Opposition Leader.
The media reached out to Paray since the support given to Persad Bissessar since his colleagues pledged support for their political leader, but he has not since commented.