Chaguanas West MP Ganga Singh will assume the position — and seat — of Opposition Chief Whip from tomorrow’s resumption of Parliament and Roodal Moonilal, who previously occupied the position, says he is prepared to sit anywhere “except the public gallery” after resigning to contest to post of political leader of the United National Congress (UNC).
Also, UNC Senator Vasant Bharath yesterday resigned as an Opposition Senator and will be launching his campaign for the UNC leadership at 10 am Saturday at Rienzi Complex. Incumbent UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is defending the post in elections scheduled for December 5, confirmed Singh’s position yesterday.
She also pelted some blows, internally, as the Opposition prepared for tomorrow’s Parliament session. Campaigning for the party’s election is expected to intensify today, now that Divali celebrations have concluded, when Moonilal launches his slate at Rienzi Complex despite his concerns about the organisation of the election.
Asked if he might drop out, he said: “At this moment, we are campaigning but it depends on the nature of the election systems. I don’t think any candidate would be able to go through the exercise without seeing the voters’ list as my team has been unable to.
“Dr (Tim) Gopeesingh who’s on my slate was told to inspect the list at Rienzi. It’s over 100,000 members. He will have to go through all of that there. This is unparalleled. People don’t enter elections not knowing who the voters are.
“I agree with former leader Basdeo Panday there might be rigging. We are told a team, headed by Dr Rampersad Parasram, is in control of the exercise but we have to be concerned. However, we move into campaign mode from tomorrow (today) and will be having many cottage meetings.”
Moonilal said he would work with whoever won if he lost. “It’s the nature of politics that you work with whoever is across the table. It’s also good our election is way in advance of a general election so we can consolidate,” he added. Moonilal’s slate is tipped to include Gopeesingh (chairman), Devant Maharaj (party organiser), Larry Lalla and others. Endorsements are expected from Gerald Yetming and others.
Moonilal said he was announcing his slate, “so members would know I would be a leader who would name candidates well in advance for people to get to know them,” taking a jab at Persad-Bissessar’s late announcement of candidates before the general election.
Yesterday Persad-Bissessar described Singh as “very experienced regarding duties of an Opposition Chief Whip. He served in this capacity from 2002-2006 and was the Opposition deputy Whip in this term. He also served as Leader of Government Business in the Senate under the People’s Partnership administration.”
“He was very effective and disciplined in managing both the House and Senate caucuses in the past. I anticipate his leadership as Opposition Chief Whip now would be invaluable in holding the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government accountable.” She said she would have talks with Singh on where Moonilal would sit in Parliament tomorrow.
Denying “election rigging” claims, she said she had not been leader in 2010 elections and had won. “In 2010, I was persona non grata at Rienzi Complex. The then hierarchy was in charge nor was I party to the 2012 UNC elections so I cannot understand this big fuss about ‘rigging.’ I wonder if people are crying wolf because they have seen from their campaigning they can lose and are taking ‘in front.’”
Panday not backing Vasant
Former UNC leader and founder Basdeo Panday says there is no truth to claims that he is backing Vasant Bharath “but if the present leader remains in control, the party wouldn’t see power for 15 years and UNC would die.” He added: “I’m only backing free, fair elections. In the absence of that I know the results. The only person who can carry the UNC foward is someone who has the confidence and support of the majority of members.
“That could only be determined through free, fair polls done by an independent body. But I think it will be like the 2010 election, rigged. The person who heads the election team is unsuitable. His brother Jai Parasram is a supporter of the leader.” Panday said if his daughter Mickela asked his advice on joining a slate, he would say if she was convinced it would be free and fair ‘Go ahead, If not, it will be an exercise in futility.’
He said the UNC had gotten a reputation of being the “most wasteful, corrupt government” and had to separate from that and show it had integrity. Panday said it was quite possible a future UNC leader could be non-East Indian “depending on who takes over and rebuilds.”