Tancoo: I support Kamla

UNITED National Congress (UNC) general secretary Davendranath Tancoo on Wednesday denied a release circulated on social media by a UNC dissident that Kamla Persad-Bissessar is about to step down from leadership of the party.

Newsday was unable to contact Persad-Bissessar, but Tancoo who is the Oropouche West MP, in a WhatsApp message to Newsday indicated his full support for her as UNC leader.

“Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the political leader of the UNC and I support her 100 per cent. There is no vacancy for leadership,” Tancoo wrote.

A Facebook page called UNC Cabal, thought to be run by a former UNC politician, has campaigned for Persad-Bissessar to relinquish the leadership, after criticising her choice of some candidates in the August general election, which the UNC lost. On Wednesday morning the page published a statement titled, "Frustrated over public’s outcry, Kamla bows out. Supports Tancoo."

The FB page said, “Kamla has finally given in to public pressure and opted to drop out of the political leadership race. She met with her inner circle and pledged her support to Tancoo and said that she would make it public after Divali because she would use the religious holiday to do some PR with the Hindu community."

The page added that Tancoo had chosen new Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram as his deputy. “His team would include Anita, Khadijah, Barry, Mohit, Saddam and Chris,” it said.

These are apparent references to Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes, St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit, Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein, and UNC councillor Chris Hosein.

The statement added “He has also promised that he would put Chris as the next MP for Naparima.”

The statement claimed former senator Jearlean John would not be wooed by such a team, as she was allegedly too close to Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, who has long been viewed as a contender for the UNC leadership.