Kamla flips on major principle

THE EDITOR: While basking in prime ministerial sunshine in 2013, UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar fired Jack Warner with the admonition to “clear your name and come back home.” Ten years later in opposition wilderness she flipped on that major principle and invited Warner back into the UNC, conveniently arguing that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

The presumption of innocence is an age-old legal principle known to Persad-Bissessar when she took action against Warner in 2013. After all, she is a senior counsel. Therefore, on July 22, 2013 she determined quite correctly that Warner’s alleged infraction was morally damaging to her political party and doing nothing about it was not an option. It required a firm response. She told party supporters, “I have said repeatedly to Warner, clear your name and come home. As long as Warner does not clear his name, then we cannot accept him in the house of the rising sun. It is simple as that.”

What a flip! Did Warner clear his name? No, he is wanted in the US to answer several charges. He is currently fighting an extradition order before the local courts.

So, why has Persad-Bissessar invited him back in the house of the rising sun? We can only assume that it is linked to the thirst for political power and perhaps the dream of equalling the Patrick Manning feat of losing an election and returning for the second time as prime minister.

The combination of these two objectives may have pushed Persad-Bissessar to abandon principle and putting self and party before country. Like my friend Dr Fuad Khan, she seems inspired by Warner, hoping that he still has the political currency to get her to Whitehall and also to save the UNC from yet another electoral defeat.

It is interesting that the UNC is toting some fledging parties, in the process making a mockery of the its local government sub-campaign slogan, “We not toting, we voting.” What they say, not toting?

HARRY PARTAP

former UNC MP