Jearlean ready to serve

DEPUTY ESSENTIAL: Opposition Leader 
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, right, presents nomination papers to contest the post of political leader of the UNC, to election officer Dr Rampersad Parasram. Next to her is former HDC head Jearlean John who also 
presented papers for the post of deputy political leader at the party’s headquarters in Couva yesterday. PHOTO BY LINCOLN HOLDER
DEPUTY ESSENTIAL: Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, right, presents nomination papers to contest the post of political leader of the UNC, to election officer Dr Rampersad Parasram. Next to her is former HDC head Jearlean John who also presented papers for the post of deputy political leader at the party’s headquarters in Couva yesterday. PHOTO BY LINCOLN HOLDER

Jearlean John, who is set to be one of the three deputy political leaders of the United National Congress (UNC), is hoping to use her experience as a former government minister to rebrand the party.

John surprised many political pundits and even UNC supporters on Wednesday when she accepted a request made by incumbent political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to be one of her nominees for three deputy political leaders.

Former minister Vasant Bharath’s decision to bow out of the race for political leader, also withdrawing his slate, means Persad-Bissessar’s nominees for executive positions will be unopposed.

John said she decided to re-enter politics because she felt she could help people.

“I was asked if I was willing to serve again in a different capacity, and the policies which flow from politics can be used for good or bad, and there are people who use politics to better the human condition and others who will weaponise politics, and use it as a tool to demonise, scandalise, victimise people. I come from the school where I want to use politics to do as much good as possible.”

The slate, led by Persad-Bissessar, is expected to be part of the new executive in early December. Businessman Peter Kanhai is tipped for chairman, while Dr Rai Ragbir is expected to be treasurer. Attorney Ravi Ratiram is expected to be party organiser.

Asked by Newsday if she would be focusing primarily on the East-West Corridor to woo votes for the UNC in the next general election, John, a mother of one, said, “The point is, if it means as a poor black girl from Charlotteville, Tobago, who could have paid her own way through school, who could have raised her daughter as a single mother, who is now an attorney at law, who could get up every day and go to work and get there before everyone else, even as managing director – I stand for certain values.”

Comments

"Jearlean ready to serve"

More in this section