Warner says he's not forming any new party, praises Ramesh

Jack Warner has assured supporters that he is not planning to form a new political party. And he has rejected the arguments made by some of them that he is putting his political future at risk by hanging on to the United National Congress (UNC).

The Chaguanas West MP is one of three deputy leaders of the UNC and is locked in a bitter struggle with the leadership and national executive of the party. He stands accused of bringing the party into disrepute with his campaign to demand change and prepare the party to face the challenges of the 21 century. Warner has stated publicly that unless the UNC embraces change it risks becoming irrelevant.

In confidential correspondence with key supporters Warner said the question that one must address is the opinion of the members of the party.

"Have they had the opportunity to reject this call for change and from the ground up determine its future whether it be the rejection of the Platform for Change or the expulsion of the current UNC-A leadership?" he asked.

He said there's no point in abandoning a good UNC-A cause without first affording the members the opportunity "to re-birth the party in accordance with the solid values upon which it was built". He said to do that is nothing more than a fatalistic approach and an acceptance that the party belongs to UNC leader Basdeo Panday.

"The Platform for Change rejects such a notion and until the people speak one way or the other, it is critical...that we provide solutions for a better party within or an alternative measure without," he explained.

"At this juncture, the people have not spoken. The Platform for Change is gaining momentum and should be given every opportunity to succeed."

Commenting on the need for a third party Warner quoted U.S. President Barack Obama who stated: “I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership; and when we get lazy..(and) start taking shortcuts, then it results in bad government and politics.”

He said the role of his Platform for Change is to get people to pay attention "to the politics around us" and the only way forward "is to find a path that will make the national community pay attention". He said he is confident that this has already started to happen.

Warner said, "Once people begin to appreciate the power of their vote... (and) begin to recognize that the real power within a democracy is not the leadership but the followership... that they are masters and not the slaves and begin to give direction rather than follow orders there will not be the need to further fragment the society."

"Our role," he said, "is to educate the people and gently guide them along the right path."

He said he does not "honestly" know if he will be the leader. However he said, what he does know is that he won't walk away without giving the people an opportunity to change.

Warner also addressed criticism of his chief ally in the campaign for change, Tabaquite MP and former Attorney General, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

Some people have described him as a liability, citing his past run-in with the UNC and his ill-fated alliance with Patrick Manning that led to the fall of the Panday government within a year of winning a majority in the 2000 general election.

Maharaj's Team Unity fought against the UNC in the 2001 election and helped push the result to an 18-18 tie, which in turn created an opportunity for President Arthur N.R. Robinson to fire Panday and appoint Patrick Manning as prime minister.

"I have heard many unfortunate comments about my friend Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and while I must confess that he is a victim of campaigns which from time to time have affected his political currency, I have to admit that there are few who are wiser, more loyal and erudite than Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj," Warner said.

"Ramesh has been accused of disloyalty to many but it is the type of disloyalty that I admire. It is certainly alright to be disloyal when it cuts against the grain of one’s morals and values.

"It is perfectly acceptable to be disloyal especially when corruption among friends seems to be the order of the day."

He added, "I want a friend to be disloyal to me when my behaviour reeks of arrogance and despotism because it is that type of loyalty that might sober me and bring me on even keel."

He said he would never question "Ramesh’s contribution to the social development in Trinidad and Tobago. I will not question the importance of his role in guaranteeing a more juridically prudent society in which we now live."