Kamla makes Jack chief whip

Kamla Persad-Bissessar exercised her right as political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Friday and appointed party chairman Jack Warner as Chief Whip in the House of Representatives.

He replaces Caroni Central MP Dr Hamza Rafeeq, who has held the post since former UNC leader Basdeo Panday fired Ramesh L. Maharaj for speaking out on behalf of change in the UNC.

Persad-Bissessar’s status as UNC leader gives her the right to direct activities among the opposition MPs in the House of Representatives, which includes the appointment of the Chief Whip.

Generally the leader of the party and the leader of the opposition are the same person and this has blurred the lines on who makes the appointment.

Although Persad-Bissessar is the new UNC leader Panday remains leader of the opposition and will keep the job until a majority of opposition members advise the president that they support another person for the post.

In his first formal comments as the new whip Warner gave the assurance that the new UNC will always act in the best interests of Trinidad and Tobago.

Earlier in the sitting Prime Minister Patrick Manning congratulated Warner on his election as UNC leader.

Responding to the Manning's comments Warner, “I want to thank the Honourable Prime Minister for his sentiments. Sometimes you get what you wish for. As he wishes us well, I want to tell him and the rest of the country that we shall not disappoint."