Tabaquite MP Ramesh L. Maharaj is attacking Kamla Persad-Bissessar as having an agenda to destroy the political base of United National Congress (UNC).And in an interview with Newsday, he said only he and UNC leader Basdeo Panday have a track record of "struggle in the opposition trenches".
He described Panday as a fighter while slamming Persad-Bissessar for failing so show any such characteristice, especially when she was leader of the oppositon.
Persad-Bissessar was appointed Opposition leader during the time that Panday was legally banned from Parliament following his conviction in a court matter that was eventually thrown out. A retrial of that case is scheduled for 2010.
During that time Panday remained leader of the UNC and directed the activities of the party. “When she was the Opposition Leader, she did not challenge the non-implementation of the Equal Opportunities Act. Nor did she challenge the government on their failure to settle sugar workers’ land issue,” he told the paper.
His comments were in reference to Persad-Bissessar's promise to scrap the property tax if she becomes prime minister and her pledge to immediately go to court to stop the tax.
Persad-Bissessar said last week she has already consulted with two Barbadian QC's on filing a case against the property tax legislation which took effect on January 1, 2010.
Maharaj described that move as a “national joke” saying the Siparia MP's track record of waging similar struggles on national issues has been dismal.
The Tabaquite MP said when he launches his public campaign for the leadership of the UNC he would remind everyone about who fought both for the equal opportunities legislation and the sugar workers issue all the way to the Privy Council.
“I intend to be very open and frank about the track record of Mrs Persad-Bissessar,” Maharaj told the paper. Maharaj was highly critical about what he said was Persad-Bissessar’s "lack of enthusiasm" in dealing with the struggle of sugar workers for lands that are legitimately theirs.
He said she has also not shown any deep concerns about the legal battle against Government’s proposed aluminium smelter plant.
He told Newsday, “She did not support the struggle to have it declared illegal. I was not in Parliament then and I fought the matter straight up to the Privy Council. The same was the situation with the sugar workers case.”
On the property tax legislation, Maharaj he said it is an issue that must be challenged but not in a way to "to enhance anyone’s political campaign".
1 comment:
I am not sure if Ramesh can be one to boast about or to compare himself to Panday fighting in the trenches. I would give him his credit when it comes to legislation but I eh know bout fighting in the trenches.
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