A highly placed member of the United National Congress (UNC) has said several MPs are upset that Kamla Persad-Bissessar is challenging Basdeo Panday for the leadership of the party because they consider her move "disrepectful".The national executive member said while some MPs privately share the concern that that Panday may not be able to win another general election they decided that "out of respect for the chief" they should not run for the leadership.
They say Persad-Bissessar betrayed that trust.
One MP who had seriously thought of running is vice chairman Vasant Bharat, the MP for St Augustine.
Persad-Bissessar sees it differently.
She stated on Saturday and again at a public meeting on Monday that while she is challenging Panday for the party's top post she still regards him as the best leader the country has had and commended him for his respect for and recognition of the equality of women.
But she said she had to balance loyalty and the future of the nation and having done that she had no choice but to offer herself for the leadership.
She said contrary to a betrayal of the party she could be the one to save the UNC and get it back in government
In an interview with JYOTI she said her move "is about building a stronger party that could win an election...times have changed and the consensus is that we need to change in order to win. It's about nation coming first."
She said she is confident that she will win and trusts the members of the party to consider the issues and make the right decision. The Siparia MP said what motivated her was the pleadings of UNC members and non-members to put nation first and to put aside personal loyalties.
"You know sometimes in life you have to fight your own kinfolk when you are defending what is right," she said.
Asked about the symbolism of being the first woman to seek the leadership of a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago, the Siparia MP said, "It says that we are equals. And that we can do the job just as well as any other."
She said her first priority on winning the January 24, 2010 election is to heal the wounds and get the party battle ready to face the PNM and win the next general election.
Persad Bissessar said she intends to be a "strong, effective and fair" leader, adding that she would welcome everyone. "We are one people and each of us deserves to be treated with respect and dignity," she said.
She said while she represents a political party, she also sees herself as a national leader. "I represent all our people," she said, "A mother cannot discriminate against her children."
She dismissed concerns about race, stating that the country has matured and no longer see issues in terms of ethnicity. She admitted that some politicians and commentators still need it as a "prop" but for her it is a non-issue.
Speaking about her campaign the former cabinet minister made it clear that she has no time for mudslinging. "I don't believe in dirty politics and you won't see any of that from my campaign," she said.
Persad-Bissessar admitted that rebuilding the party and taking on the responsibility of running a government are heavy load but she said she knows she will succeed.
"With the right team we'll make the load light and solve the problems of this nation and return it to the paradise it can be," she said.
And she was emphatic that she could take the pressure that comes with the responsibility to lead.
"We are the stronger sex; remember the song? I am strong, I am invincible. I am woman?" she declared.
And her final word?
"My arms will embrace this nation with love. We all have much to contribute to building this nation and bringing it back from the near ruin."
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