Warner announces UNC membership drive, says COP members still UNC

Jack Warner announced on Thursday that his Movement for Change (MFC) is postponing its Special Assembly which was scheduled for November 29 and will instead embark on a massive membership drive.

The deputy leader of the United National Congress (UNC) said his group will visit all 41 constituencies and use all the means at its disposal to get a copy of the Party's membership list.

"In this regard we are reminding all COP members and sympathisers that, according to our information, they are all still members of the UNC and therefore they must use their vote to assist in bringing about the change we all seek," he said.

Warner also said the MFC has drafted a new constitution for the Party and a new Rule Book based on "the 50,000 and more replies we received on our Caravan for Change."

He said a small committee under the chairmanship of Ramesh L. Maharaj will review the two documents to come up with a final draft and promised that members would get copies of the documents, which would also be available online.

Following this exercise, he said, "we shall then call a Special Assembly of the UNC to ratify both documents".

With regard to the membership list, Warner said he will do what's necessary either inside and outside of the courts to make sure that all persons who are eligible to vote in internal elections can do so.

"We shall also be encouraging persons far and wide to contest the UNC elections, whenever they are called and I again say here and now that I have no intention of contesting for the post of Political Leader of the party but instead I will contest for the post of Chairman." he said.

He pledged to make the UNC "a proper party again and we will bring back democracy to the Party."

And he said the people will have a distinct and important role to play "in this movement for change in the UNC. All of you will be asked to oversee the new UNC and bring back the UNC to its pristine position and thereby ensure that we are in government once again".

He urged supporters to work hard at making a difference.

"Give each other support and encourage each other to stand firm in the change we must make. Stop wavering. Become the change you want to be.

"Don’t spend the time talking about the crime situation; spend it on encouraging each other to vote the PNM out. Don’t spend your time talking about corruption; use the opportunity to call your friends to bring an end to this evil regime.

"In other words don’t spend your time talking about the problems when the solution is here before us. Let us fix our Party to be the next Government of Trinidad and Tobago," he said.

The chaguanas MP pledged that in 2010 he would drastically cut his hectic travel schedule to spend more time at home.

"I will be back in a couple weeks...to campaign for the post of Chairman of the UNC whenever the elections are called," he said.

"I have made a conscious decision to let my bucket down from 2010, travel considerably less and spend more time working with like-minded colleagues, in reorganising the UNC as a modern-day Party fit for the 21st century and beyond."