Basdeo Panday dismissed suggestions Friday morning that Kamla Persad-Bissessar can unite the opposition in Trinidad and Tobago and said her efforts in that regard have ended in failure. The leader of the United National Congress (UNC) made the statement in an interview on national television.
"The Party Executive appointed Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the head of a high powered committee...when Mr. Dookeran refused to meet with me.
"Remember, I had written him several letters saying to him, let's meet, let's sit down and talk about unity and he refused constantly, persistently....The point about it is that Kamla Persad-Bissessar was appointed to head a committee for unity; she did not succeed," he said.
Persad-Bissessar, who is challenging Panday for the leadership of the UNC in the January 24 internal election, is marketing herself as a unifying force. And she is saying Panday is considered abrasive and not attractive as a leader who could unite the opposition.
The unity matter is important in the election since voters are trying to determine which of the three people running for the leadership is best suited to lead the party, unite it and win an election.
When Persad-Bissessar, representing the UNC, appeared at a political meeting of the COP last year, COP members applauded her while at the same time they rejected Panday.
Read the story: COP welcomes Kamla's unity message but says "NO PANDAY!"
Panday also spoke about the UNC's rejection of 16,000 new membership applications.
There is talk that the flood of applications came from COP members who had left the UNC and were coming back to ensure Panday's defeat.
"The whole purpose of examining the 16,000 forms was to see if they belonged to another party and if they did, you cannot join this political party. So surely the party is entitled to examine the forms," he said.
He added, "The Committee can do only so much work in time for the elections on the 24th. If they had unlimited time I am sure that they can do it. But there is a deadline that there must be the elections on the 24th."
He insisted that the vote will take place as scheduled. "I have heard nothing about the elections being delayed of the 24th, as far as I am aware.
Panday also spoke about his priorities.
"I want to build a disciplined, strong,vibrant party if I win. You have to weed out people who are incapable of discipline," he said.
"I believe that Kamla said I was the best Prime Minister this country has ever seen, so it means we were doing things right," he said.
Panday amended his famous fighting line. He has always said, "When you see me and a lion fighting, feel sorry for the lion." He ended his interview on television saying, "Listen, lionesses too eh!"
1 comment:
You must come to the reality that if your clim is correct, then she failed because no one wants to unite with you Mr. Panday. When would you get it through your head that you are solely responsible for the PNM being in power today.
Post a Comment