While UNC MPs Barry Padarath and Christine Newallo-Hosein are supporting UNC incumbent Kamla Persad-Bissessar for the leadership of the party, several other UNC MPs are not committing yet on who they might support for the post.
This follows the announcement that all party posts, including the leadership, are up for grabs and will be contested in December 5 party elections. Nomination forms are available from today. Nomination Day is November 20.
Incumbent Persad-Bissessar didn’t answer calls yesterday on her position.
UNC deputy leader Roodal Moonilal said he would consult his constituency and UNC members on whether he should return as UNC deputy political leader. UNC sources said yesterday there was some support simmering among UNC’s frontline MPs for Moonilal.
UNC Senator Vasant Bharath, also considered a possible leadership contender, said he had not considered the issue since the announcement had only just been made.
He said when he considered it, then he would decide.
UNC Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie said hoped an early election would help re-energise the party. He declined further comment.
Padarath said he had not decided on whether he would contest a party post but had thrown his support for leadership behind Persad-Bissessar.
He said that followed consultations with his constituency and executive and inflow of support from Princes Town residents who “have told me to tell the leader to stay strong because their support is with her.”
On whether Persad-Bissessar could retain the leadership following concerns that she had lost five elections in as many years, he said UNC voters would be voting in this election and she had retained strong support in the party despite the election loss.
He added: “Her brand remains strong. She’s also been speaking of rebranding and re-developing the party structure, “and we may see some changes coming forward.
“However, her stocks are still very strong, stronger than anyone else’s in the party structure and she’s far ahead of any other personality. She had always been popular even in government when the PP Government was itself unpopular.
“Elections were lost due to several reasons in various constituencies, including the ILP split, and she’s been reviewing the reasons why we may have lost. Many feel she can return to win again and this is an opportunity to do so, and I definitely think she can with the right team.”
Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo-Hosein said she felt the party’s leadership required someone who could attract East-West Corridor support as well as from elsewhere.
She said she would support incumbent Persad-Bissessar since she felt her stocks were still strong and believed she had offered herself for leadership again. She said she did not plan to contest a party post since she felt such posts required full time attention and dedication to ensure the party was organised.
Most other UNC MPs reached by phone were non-committal.
Among views on who they support for leader and if they would contest any post, MP Fazal Karim tersely said he had no comment.
MP Rudy Indarsingh said he would decide in “due course” if he would contest anything and on other matters.