Kamla, Jack not bothered, still fighting to win

The announcement that Basdeo Panday has won the public endorsement of 15 parliamentarians - 10 MPs and 5 senators - is not bothering at least two people running as candidates in the January 24, 2010 internal elections of the United National Congress (UNC).

Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Jack Warner are both continuing with their plans for the vote.

Persad-Bissessar is challenging Panday for the leadership and Warner is running for the post of chairman.

In separate media statements both shrugged off the development as something that was widely expected since the legislators had always openly supported Panday.

In her statement the Siparia MP said she time believed a few months ago that supporting Panday was the right thing. But she added that "having studied the reality I chose to oppose the status quo and challenge Mr. Panday for the leadership".

She reiterated that she has never disputed Panday's track record and his decades of commitment "to our party and this nation". However she said, "there is a national consensus today that despite all his best efforts Mr. Panday cannot lead our party back to victory in an election."

She said she will continue the campaign. "And I will win, which means the people win. I have confidence in the membership and they are the ones who will settle the leadership issue on January 24th. This is not about Kamla's choice. It is about the people's choice," she said.

In his comment on the endorsement, Warner said he expected the MPs and senators to throw their support behind Panday, noting that their statement merely confirms what is public knowledge.

"That is why the Movement for Change was created... What I have always said is that the Party needs to change and the four MPs who are not supporting Mr. Panday are of the same view," the Chaguanas West MP said.

He added, "Without such change we cannot have a strong Party that could challenge the People’s National Movement in an election and win. That is the whole point."

Warner said he remains committed to run for the Chairmanship of the party, "because this endorsement is not changing the reality."

He added, "These are 15 votes and each of them might influence some of their supporters" and asked whether the endorsement was as a result of consultation.

"I wonder if any of the 10 Parliamentarians consulted with their Constituency Executive Committees so as to get their views before signing such a letter?" he asked.

He said he has faith in the membership. "There are over 35,000 members who will vote in the election and they will determine who leads. I have faith in the membership.

"Nobody disputes the past; we are trying to build the future. In the final analysis, such a letter suggests to me a certain level of desperation which will have no impact on the tsunami of change that is presently gripping the UNC," Warner said.