Election done, time for healing

AFTER six bruising weeks of campaign for leadership of the United National Congress (UNC), one of the three deputies, Dr Lackram Bodoe, says it is time for healing to take place within the party.

“At the end of the day we are all UNC and there is one leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The party remains strong and for those who want to come back and support the party, a place can be found,” Bodoe said on Monday.

The Star Team led by Persad-Bissessar won by a huge margin against her lone opponent for political leadership Vasant Bharath and his Lotus Team. Persad and her team made a clean sweep, tallying 14,873 votes to Bharath’s 2,198 votes. The pandemic, and not a lack of enthusiasm, has been blamed for the low voter turnout.

Sentiments similar to Bodoe’s were expressed by another deputy, Jearlean John, who advised the losing candidate and his Lotus Team to, “come in.”

“The leader of the Opposition has always maintained this call for unity and all hands on deck and to recognise who the real opponent is. It is not the UNC members fighting against each other, it is the People’s National Movement (PNM).

“The UNC door is always open to everybody. It is not a wedding where you have to get a special invitation. Just fall in. Come into your party and do the work that has to be done. We have a lot of work to be done,” John said.

Admitting the fight was “brutal,” David Lee – the third elected deputy leader – said now that a national executive has been elected, they have to move forward in preparing for the next general election. He said he was heartened that Bharath had extended an olive branch saying he is willing to assist the party, as he has done in the past.

“We are all one family and at the end of the day there will be healing,” Lee said. In his concession speech, hours after the polls closed, Bharath congratulated the new executive and said he accepted the decision

In wishing the Star Team success, Bharath offered, “to be of assistance in the urgent and extensive exercise of rebuilding and renewing the UNC.” He urged members not to engage in recrimination.

“Antagonism and reproach would only harm an organisation that requires the commitment and united purpose of all its human resources in order to displace the failed PNM at the next general election,” he said. He urged Persad-Bissessar to embrace and integrate all party supporters if the UNC is interested in becoming a viable political force.

Bharath also expressed concerns about irregularities which plagued the internals and need for these to be addressed. He said he was not considering legal actions at this time.

Bodoe said he was not aware of claims made by Bharath and was satisfied the process was conducted properly and fairly. Lee said no date has yet been set for the installation of the National Executive.