United National Congress’s (UNC) Couva North constituency chairman Orlando Nagessar said yesterday made a call for a “compromise” on the party’s leadership contest. His call cames 48 hours before the party’s deputy leader Roodal Moonilal is expected to announce his bid, tomorrow, to contest the leadership against incumbent Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
One-time UNC St Joseph candidate Gerry Yetming, tipped to be Moonilal’s campaign manager, says incumbent Persad-Bissessar “isn’t capable of taking the UNC forward at this stage.”
Nagessar, a former mayor of Chaguanas, said he was prepared to call for compromise on the leadership issue at last night’s meeting at the Couva South office, since he felt a leadership battle would severely fracture the party.
Nagessar spoke to the T&T Guardian ahead of the meeting last night. It was the second such meeting of MPs, the Opposition whip, Senate leader, corporation chairmen and other arms since the People’s Partnership/UNC lost the September 7 general election. It was preceded by a UNC national executive meeting at Rienzi Complex.
Party insiders said the parliamentary arm meeting was expected to be heated and calls were expected from the floor from “both sides” calling for Persad-Bissessar to step down as well as for Moonilal to shelve his bid. They noted that in the 2010 leadership election, a call had been made from the floor of a similar meeting for then UNC leader Basdeo Panday to step down. Persad-Bissessar had won that election.
Nagessar’s Couva North unit was also to meet yesterday on the election. His appeal for compromise comes after sides began shaping up in the Opposition party in preparation for the December 5 internal poll where the leadership is up for contest. Persad-Bissessar launched her bid to retain leadership of the party last weekend. Moonilal is receiving support from some former MPs, several incumbents and past and present members.
UNC Senator Vasant Bharath has said he would say by this weekend if he would also contest the leadership. Yesterday, Yetming said he had no problem supporting Moonilal. “I think he has the ability to breathe new life into the party as a party first and as a government in waiting which are two separate issues,” he added.
On Moonilal’s ability to attract national support, Yetming said: “He’s highly intelligent and sufficiently experienced in the politics to do what’s required to make himself appealing to the national community (so) he can have cross-border appeal. “There are drawbacks regarding the incumbent and while she is a former colleague, we need a strong Opposition.”
Nagessar, who said Couva North would watch to see what arose from last night’s meeting and UNC executive meetings, said his unit was divided on the leadership issue. He said he was also noting rank-and-file members’ views.
He said he was sure the leadership issue would have arisen at last night’s parliamentary arm meeting and as an attendee, he was prepared to call for compromise because any battle on this will surely fracture the party and retard any move for us to go forward as a healthy Opposition. It certainly won’t be good for T&T to have a divided, ineffective Opposition.
“We have seen how in-fighting damaged UNC in previous internal elections. While democracy exists, I feel people must understand the magnitude of the situation, possible ill effects and deal appropriately with it. I am prepared to make a call for compromise on that basis.”
Chairman of UNC Tunapuna constituency, Hamlyn Jailal, said his executive would meet next week on the issue, but he felt “Dr Moonilal is an excellent choice... even the leader alluded to that four years ago when she spoke about him being her ‘heir apparent.’ “So he will be a formidable opponent. He has a significant national profile and can command national appeal and T&T’s northwest if his slate reflects a proper ethnic mix.
“Mrs Persad-Bissessar headed a Government that delivered but she faced five defeats so members would give her a hard look. Also, the UNC has to restructure and mount a challenge to the People’s National Movement.” Former Toco/Sangre Grande candidate Brent Sancho said he was still weighing whether he would remain in politics and was looking at the leadership options reported.
“I’ll be examining their plans for the party and deciding based on that. One thing for sure, we need to dust ourselves off and start planning for the future.”
Roopnarine undecided
Former Oropouche West MP Stacy Roopnarine, who heads UNC’s Women’s Arm, said she had not decided if she would contest an executive post “or decided what I would do politically.” On whether she supports Persad-Bissessar or Moonilal, she said: “I haven’t yet decided anything.”
On if UNC was performing effectively as an Opposition, Roopnarine said: “There’s always room for improvement. The party has work to be done following loss of elections. We’re willing to do the work to continue building and I am prepared to do my part in that.”
Chaguanas West MP Ganga Singh said constituents were still considering the leadership matter. Some members told T&T Guardian they wondered why the elections were being held at this time.
Former Toco MP Rupert Griffith said he had not given it serious thought but needed to talk to various people before deciding who to support. He said MP Fuad Khan was entitled to his view that Persad-Bissessar should step down. UNC’s Garvin Nicholas said he wanted to see the party develop as a strong one, not only in T&T “but as a regional leader, one that could sustain much longer than its original inception since it’s important to democracy for such an alternative to exist.
“I will consider what slates are presented and if they have the potential to appeal across all T&T and create a sustainable party,not one that’s perceived to be dominated by one ethnicity or religion,” he added.