Despite the UNC losing the last five elections they contested, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar got a fresh mandate from party members to seek re-election as their political leader.
Launching her campaign at the Shiva Boys Hindu College in Penal, yesterday, Persad-Bissessar was endorsed by several opposition MPs, including Dr Suruj Rambachan, Dr Lackram Bodoe, Dr David Lee, Rodney Charles and Barry Padarath. Also showing their support were several former ministers and current chairmen and councillors of regional corporations.
Persad-Bissessar revealed that many members urged her to postpone the internal elections until next year, but she wanted to get a new executive to help rebuild the party as they moved to form the next government.
With the elections on December 5, she said she was looking for fresh faces in the new executive as she promised many changes, including in the attitude of the party.
“I give you my every commitment that I will use every nerve in my body to ensure that the UNC is fully geared and prepared to move into a new era of servant-based leadership. I give you the commitment as well, we will look into how we can work on this servant-based leadership era and that we must continue to fight and advocate the issues that impact upon people because we want a people-centred government,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She also appealed to members and candidates not to destroy the party by launching personal attacks against each other during their respective campaigns.
“Anybody who is supporting me, campaigning with me, today I warn you I will not tolerate any attacks against any opponent that will work to undermine and mash up the UNC. We are still one UNC family.”
She announced that nomination day was on November 20 where forms would be available at Rienzi Complex, Couva. She added that an independent elections committee would be formed to ensure a fair election.
Persad-Bissessar also called on members to stand with the Opposition as it battled the Government in Parliament over the proposed property tax and revenue authority. She called on National Security Minister Edmund Dillon to reveal the PNM’s crime-fighting plans and appealed to Education Minister Anthony Garcia to continue the laptop distribution to Form One secondary school students.