UNC leader welcomes challengers

OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has thrown down the gauntlet saying she is not afraid of any internal challenge to her position as political leader of the party. She made her position clear on Monday night during the UNC’s virtual report.

“I will not give up! I will never give up on the people of TT. And that’s the reason I’m here. I see some people have been crying, they are like little ants or flies or something like that. That’s their democratic right. The party will hold its internal elections when they are due. I will put my hat in the ring and I challenge you mano a mano, woman to woman, come forward and put your name next to mine.

“I understand they looking for somebody to challenge me. Because none of them want to put their name next to mine. So do not worry. That is democracy too. Some people didn’t get a seat, whether it’s senate seat or a seat in the House (and) they vex. They want to mash up the whole castle. Mash up everything. But they will not succeed. And they know they will not succeed.”

She said these challengers were not calling for internal elections but want her to resign. “I am not resigning. The party will call its election when it’s due. And again I say, come forward. I will take you on. I will take on all comers. I am not afraid of any of you. I have been here longer than you and I am far brighter than you will ever, ever hope to be.”

Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial, in an earlier presentation, spoke to the naysayers, critics and detractors of the Opposition, “not only from the outside but from the inside.”

“If you are not with us, you are against us. You owe it to the members of the UNC to stand behind our leader now and in the future, whoever that leader may be, to continue our work as a strong and united party.

Today, tomorrow and forever we must remain and behave as though we are UNC and proud.”

Former Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial is one UNC member who has been openly critical of Persad-Bissessar’s handling of the August 10 general election, while former UNC MP Dr Fuad Khan, former PP minister Vasant Bharath, and former PP minister Devant Maharaj are among dissenting voices calling for Persad-Bissessar to resign as political leader following back-to-back general election losses.