Kamla Persad- Bissessar got an enthusiastic endorsement Sunday from members of the United National Congress (UNC) at the party's national congress at the Rienzi complex in Couva, Central Trinidad.One member from the floor called on UNC political leader Basdeo Panday to step aside and let Persad-Bissessar lead the party.
The delegate, who was identified only as "Abdul", told Panday to hand the leadership over to Deputy Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on an interim basis until internal elections are held.
"There is only one person who I think could take this party to victory," Abdul said."Mr Chairman, I am sure that almost everybody in this hall today supports what I am saying.
"I think it is high time that we give Kamla Persad-Bissessar a chance...If there is any doubt, because, Mr Chairman, you always say that you would listen to the wishes of the people, if there is any doubt about what I am saying, you could pass a ballot here today and let there be a secret vote and you would see what I am saying.
"It is not that I love Mr Panday less, but I love this party more...this has nothing to do with you or Mrs Persad-Bissessar. This has to do with...the members of the party, and getting into government," Abdul said.
Panday thanked him for his comments and promised that his observations "would be taken into consideration."
The UNC Congress later endorsed a resolution for internal party elections to be held on January 28, 2010 and Panday told reporters the vote would present the opportunity for all party members to say who they want for their leader.
He was still ambiguous about whether he would seek the leadership, only stating that he would run if he gets nominated but added, "I may not get nominated."
Persad-Bissessar was careful not to say much about the support she got from the floor. "That is the view of one member here today," she told reporters, "Certainly it is not the view of everyone out there. This is a democracy."
She acknowledged that there was hearty applause from the audience, but the UNC deputy leader was not making a big deal of the endorsement ."I'm sure I have some fans," she said.
Like Panday she was not saying if she would run, adding that she would leave that decision for later after consultations with her constituents.
She seemed to offer a compromise on unity somewhere between Panday's rejection of COP's call to dissolve the UNC and join COP and a move for a united opposition.
Persad-Bissessar said a united opposition is the only vehicle that would allow the country to go forward and remove the PNM.
"As Mr Panday said today, unity doesn't mean one party dissolving and becoming into the other. There are various forms of unity," she said, adding that there can be unity on the issue of property taxes and crime.
"There would be obstacles. We would go backward and forward, but we would never stop trying to unite everyone together to defeat the PNM," she stated.
Persad-Bissessar is one of three deputy leaders of the UNC and heads a special committee appointed by the UNC national executive to try to unite all the opposition groups.
In that regard she has already made a deal with one political grouping headed by former UNC Alliance candidate for Chaguanas East Dr Kirk Meighoo.
In July, with the executive's blessing, Persad-Bissessar attended a congress of the Congress of the People (COP) at the invitation of COP leader Winston Dookeran but during her speech some COP members booed when she mentioned Panday's name, saying "No Panday, No Panday".
Read the story: COP welcomes Kamla's unity message but says "NO PANDAY!"
Related story: Dookeran invites Kamla and UNC to join COP, pledges to meet Jack Warner
COP's deputy leader Prakash Ramadhar subsequently apologized on behalf of the party. The UNC invited Dookeran to Sunday's congress as a reciprocal move, but Dookeran sent two senior members of the party to represent COP.
One week ago he appeared on a joint platform with Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner at a Divali celebration in Felicity and pledged to reopen his mission to unite the opposition.
Read the story: Dookeran praises Warner, launches new search for political unity
Commenting on the unity process Persad-Bissessar said a dialogue with opposition groups is continuing, adding that there is common ground that is being explored.
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