Head of the UNC’s Women’s Arm Stacy Roopnarine is firmly non-committal on the recent statement from the Women’s Arm, which pledged support for incumbent leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the party’s December 5 internal elections.
Putting some distance between herself and the statement issued by the unit she heads, Roopnarine said, yesterday, she still hasn’t decided whom she would support in the party’s leadership election, despite the statement supporting Persad-Bissessar.
The statement was released on Monday. It was signed by unit PRO Dianne Bishop. She stated that as PRO, she was expressing “our full faith and confidence” in Persad-Bissessar and on “behalf of the women of the UNC, we fully endorse” Persad-Bissessar.
The statement added: “As we seek to rebuild, rebrand and redevelop the institutional organs of our party, we believe there is no other person than Mrs Persad-Bissesar who commands the majority of support of our party and who possesses the required qualities to take us back into government in the shortest possible time.”
Bishop’s statement added: “Persad-Bissessar continues to enjoy a high percentage of support both within the party membership and nationally. The predominant feeling among our female membership is that Mrs Persad-Bissessar together with the right team can make the fundamental changes needed to make our party more attractive to the national community again.”
Yesterday, Roopnarine was unable to say if she agreed with the statement, adding she hadn’t yet decided whom she was supporting, that is, whether incumbent Persad-Bissessar or challenger Roodal Mooonilal, who some party insiders claim she may support.
Roopnarine, added: “I saw the Women’s Arm release. Everyone is free to speak, that’s democracy. The good thing about election is, it’s a one-man/one-vote system and all supporters have the ability to translate their support to vote.”
Pressed on if she agreed with the statement, Roopnarine said: “I haven’t decided who I’ll be supporting or what post I may contest, if at all. Everyone’s entitled to their personal views but I don’t believe it’s right for me or any member to speak on behalf of the party.”
UNC officials, while admitting there was split support in the Womens’ Arm, said the executive determined the general position, and not any one member.
UNC Senator Vasant Bharath also remained silent on whether he would contest the leadership after hinting he might give a decision. Bharath didn’t answer calls or a text message on it up to yesterday.
At last week’s UNC parliamentary arm meeting, all six chairmen of UNC-controlled corporations pledged support for Persad-Bissessar. Yesterday, more support came from the UNC’s Princes Town executive. Area MP Barry Padarath was the first to support Persad-Bissessar.
Constituency chairman Gowrie Roopnarine said: “Mrs Persad-Bissessar remains highly favoured among the UNC membership in Princes Town and constituency as a whole. She continues to demonstrate her competence and ability to bring the party together and lead from the front. At this time in our party’s life, we need a leader who can attract persons and groups who aren’t politically active. Mrs Persad-Bissessar has been able to bridge these gaps before. We believe she can do this again with the right team of professionals and people willing to rebuild the UNC.”
That unit stated: “This is an opportunity for her to assemble a team that will work in the party’s best interest... We call on those with personal ambitions and pride to work with her to ensure we return to government.”
The UNC’s national executive meets tonight to finalise election issues including a team to supervise the polls, general secretary Dave Tancoo said.