Jack Warner stood his ground Monday night at a political meeting in Bamboo village telling supporters that they must make their votes count in the internal elections of the United National Congress (UNC) on January, 24, 2010.Warner is currently one of the party's three deputy leaders, but he won't be standing for that position. He has announced that he will be running for the chairmanship, which is open.
Political leader Basdeo Panday currently holds that post, but since he is running for the leadership, there is no declared contender for chairman at the present time except the Chaguanas West MP.
Warner said he is elated that the election is going to take place, which is a signal that the UNC seems to be consolidating to position itself to take hold of the reins of power and become once again the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
"I am extremely elated that after months of agitating for reform, the party has finally decided to get its act together and establish itself based on the constitutional foundations upon which it was built and establish our party once again based on the will of the people who continue to support it," he said.
And he urged them to make sure that they don't lose focus of the main goal, which is to defeat the People's National Movement (PNM) in the next general election.
"Now is the time to demonstrate commitment to the values we have echoed from the Platform of Change and build a party that is transparent enough to attract citizens to this glorious party from every walk of life.
"We can never be satisfied with what has been taking place within the party; the infighting and the alienation of your representatives within the Parliament, which clearly has weakened the resolve of the UNC to challenge the government," he said.
"We are fed up of being in the opposition...We have reached the point where we as a party will determine whether we want to reinstate our current leadership and remain in opposition politics or whether we want to re-position ourselves and take hold of the reins of power by putting in place leaders of integrity who demand the respect of the national community," he said.
He insisted that if UNC members reinstate the current leadership the party will be doomed to stay in opposition.
"If people have that clarity of vision, honesty of intent and oneness of purpose there is no way we can be defeated," he declared.
In a clear attack on Panday, Warner said the party cannot be strong on the crime agenda "when the possibility exists that the very leader can become a statistic of the same crime condition that is debilitating the country".
He accused the current leadership of ignoring the basic tenets of the Party’s constitution and told supporters they must never trust them with the reins of power, since it is possible they would behave in like manner if they get into government.
"We need leadership that is honest and transparent; one that will be accountable to the people. Not the type of leadership that will provide no audited statement of accounts for twenty years or call meetings without duly constituted members and make decisions in the absence of a quorum," he said.
He suggested that the current leadership would try to hold on to power at any cost as it seeks "to elicit your sympathy and the moment it is received turn their backs on the promise, betraying your vote."
He added, "This leadership is the same leadership that time and time again has found ways to alienate solid representatives like Hulsie Bhaggan, Winston Dookeran and Gillian Lucky just to name a few and within recent times attempted to expel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Winston Peters and Jack Warner; this is not the leadership that we want."
Warner said the UNC needs leaders who are not afraid of encouraging divergent thought or celebrating the differences of opinion.
He called on everyone to work together to create the change the party needs "for an emancipated UNC will bring freedom to this nation. The Platform for Change demands that you stay in character.
"Focus on what is important and that is by the way we speak, by the things we do, by our demeanour let us demonstrate our intention to get into government...let us show to all and sundry that change is here," he said.
The Chaguanas West MP cautioned members to guard against the temptation to become divisive with nastiness and mauvai langue.
"Let us walk the streets, meet with our friends and even our enemies and invite them to be a part of this change. Invite them to support a new leadership that will not lose the common touch, one that will identify with the oppressed and the down-trodden, in a word, a leadership that listens.
"Let us converse with those still stuck in their old ways and with reason and logic point them to a new path...Let us make the difference in our community and be the symbol for change," he declared.
"The cry of “who we go put” should reverberate instead with “Ah know who we putting” after we make our voices heard by removing this dysfunctional leadership currently "manning" our Party.
"Don’t be afraid of change...You have the power to do it and together I know we can make that change," he said.
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