Members of Parliament who supported former UNC leader Basdeo Panday in the January 24 internal election are reported to be ready to meet with the new leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, to discuss the issue of the leader of the opposition. Panday still holds that position, which he earned after the general election of 2007.However, with the change of party leadership the question of the leader also holding the official opposition post has been raised by party members. Under the constitution the person who has the majority support of the opposition MPs is the leader of the opposition. That leaves Panday in the post for now.
Persad-Bissessar has called a meeting of the parliamentary caucus for Wednesday afternoon.
Couva South MP hopes that there could some discussion on the issue when MPs meet with Persad-Bissessar. He is not making any commitment on what he would do but has suggested that he would be in a better position to comment "after I meet with her.”
Other MPs who supported Panday are working behind the scenes to bridge the Parliamentary divide to guarantee that the bruising campaign does not create two competing sides from the same party in Parliament.
One highly reliable source told JYOTI that the appointment of Jack Warner as Chief Whip set the process back a bit but insisted that "we are all committed to getting to a favourable outcome."
The source added, "If we just look for the numbers we will have a legacy of another divided opposition that will impede the new dispensation, we need to work on interest and mediation to get an optimum number to support Kamla - then she would have the legitimacy and comfort of a full parliamentary force with her."
The source, who supported Panday in the election, said the new leadership must acknowledge others who have sustained the UNC struggle for the last decade as legitimate parts of the UNC.
"It will be a pity if the executive moves to the right and the parliamentary caucus moves to the left, but we must all play a role in working to bring this matter to a resolution.
"It requires care, delicate negotiation and good faith," the source said.
1 comment:
I really do hope that the opposition members can genuinely put aside their differences and embrace this opportunity to really unite the opposition forces and create an alternative to the current administration. Those oppose to the corruption, mismangement and squandering of our resources have had enough, we can no longer live in fear that one day we would be robbed, kidnapped or even murdered. The opposition needs to put its house in order and Kamla is seen as the best opportunity for this to happen. I appeal to all MPs to support Kamal, the moment they begin to show disrespect to her there would be a devided opposition yet again, for country's sake please.
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