Where's new UNC blood?

THE EDITOR: I recently saw reports of an apparent reconciliation between Vasant Bharath and Kamla Persad-Bissessar, political leader of the UNC.

Bharath was a fervent critic of the leadership of Persad-Bissessar and openly challenged her position, claiming unfair and undemocratic practices, when he eventually lost in his bid to become political leader. It seems a bit surprising to me now, after years of dormancy, that he has decided to emerge once again with a public display of apparent unity.

Amidst all of the recent chaos in the party and the re-emergence of Bharath, I cannot help but be unenthusiastic about this news. The reasoning is, strangely, not due to any negative perception I possess towards Bharath, but derives from a feeling of having been here before, like this is nothing new or exciting I am seeing from the UNC. I find myself asking: is this the best they have to offer us, another recycled UNC politician of past vintage, repackaged and presented as new?

With the likes of former minister Tim Gopeesingh as a regular spokesman for the UNC and acting as a temporary senator, former minister of energy Kevin Ramnarine being the main commentator on energy matters, and now Bharath re-emerging to reconcile with the UNC leadership, I am left wondering, what’s new?

Where is the youth and new blood within the party that is supposed to re-energise it? It seems as if the best the UNC has to offer the country at this time is its vintage politicians, who still carry the stain for its tumultuous and ill-fated term in office, which began almost 15 years ago.

Forgive me if I sound like I am being fed stale bread and mouldy cheese, but I feel like the population has already seen what this lot has to offer and rejected it.

Contrast this with what I am seeing within the ranks of the PNM, with many young, vibrant and energetic faces, cut across the racial divide, being promoted and presented as the future of the party.

Where is this within the UNC? Is it that the party, in its current state, with a leader unwilling to give up the reins of power and senior members in open revolt, is unable to attract the bright young people who are willing to serve? Or is it that there is no room for new faces and fresh ideas within UNC? Is it that this party is so afraid of change that sticking with the past and loyalty to the leader are preferred over the fresh, new, bold and radical?

Only time will tell, but I am not in the least bit excited or interested.

RAJIV HEMANT

San Fernando