The first was the announcement by Winston Dookeran that he would not be seeking re-election as the political leader of the Congress of the People (COP) when the election for that post takes place on July 3 instant.
The second was the announcement by the FIFA Ethics Committee that Austin Jack Warner, a FIFA vice president, was suspended pending a full inquiry into allegations made against him by CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer.
As a Minister of Government in Trinidad and Tobago, there was an obvious political backlash for the People’s Partnership from that announcement.
As a Minister of Government in Trinidad and Tobago, there was an obvious political backlash for the People’s Partnership from that announcement.
The response of Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar was swift. She was standing by Minister Warner until any evidence to the contrary came out against him as he was deemed to be innocent until proven guilty.
As chairman of the UNC, Warner is an influential figure in the party and the Government and the Opposition knows that if something adverse were to happen to Warner out of this episode, it would wound the People’s Partnership Government badly.
The COP was quick on the draw and issued a statement calling for Warner to step down from his ministerial position pending the completion of the investigation into his FIFA activities.
The COP was quick on the draw and issued a statement calling for Warner to step down from his ministerial position pending the completion of the investigation into his FIFA activities.
This was mirrored by Prakash Ramadhar who announced his candidacy for the post of political leader of the COP last Tuesday. This was also the position of Vernon de Lima, the current vice chairman of the party, who is also a contestant for the post of political leader.
However, Anil Roberts, the Minister of Sport (another contender for the post of COP political leader), took a different view and sided with the Prime Minister in calling for Minister Warner to remain in office.
With the COP divided on this issue as they move towards a leadership election in July, the People’s Partnership has to keep an eye on what is likely to be said during the election campaign for the political leadership of the COP.
With the COP divided on this issue as they move towards a leadership election in July, the People’s Partnership has to keep an eye on what is likely to be said during the election campaign for the political leadership of the COP.
The last election in the COP was relatively modest when compared to what occurred when the UNC held their leadership elections in January 2010. Winston Dookeran founded the COP as a third political force in 2006 and fought two general elections at the helm of the party and placed it in government against all the odds.
It takes political skill and vision to contest ten seats, win six, and end up at the table of power when the largest party in the partnership had the numerical strength to form the Government on its own because it commands a majority.
It takes political skill and vision to contest ten seats, win six, and end up at the table of power when the largest party in the partnership had the numerical strength to form the Government on its own because it commands a majority.
Many people may have underestimated Dookeran’s ability to engage in accommodative political behaviour. Some regard that as a weakness, while for others it is his greatest strength.
The political culture of this country has emerged on the basis of a single, dominant political party where the winner takes all and small numbers represent a curse as opposed to a cause.
After the 2007 general election, the COP never gave up and they clearly recognised that they had to find a way to mend fences with the UNC and the new leadership of the UNC recognised that they had to mend fences with the COP.
After the 2007 general election, the COP never gave up and they clearly recognised that they had to find a way to mend fences with the UNC and the new leadership of the UNC recognised that they had to mend fences with the COP.
There was common agreement among them that they had to have a single ally in Tobago as neither of them would have a chance there. The magic formula worked.
Dookeran made a sacrifice in the last general election in order to ensure that the COP would get into government. Some argued that he sold the party short on the number of seats that they contested (ten), others recognised that another 2007 outcome was looming over the horizon if the Partnership could not be moulded.
Dookeran made the decision to go with ten seats and now others will get the chance to either take that forward inside the Partnership or blow it on a feeling of strength that the COP should go its own way.
Dookeran made the decision to go with ten seats and now others will get the chance to either take that forward inside the Partnership or blow it on a feeling of strength that the COP should go its own way.
Dookeran’s strategy of ensuring a place for the COP in the East-West Corridor where the UNC could not win will be a lasting legacy for those who seek to lead the party to build upon.
The axis of connected seats from St Augustine through Tunapuna, Lopinot-Bon Air West, D’Abadie/O’Meara and Arima broke the back of the PNM and gave the Partnership the kind of majority that could allow it to govern.
The same could be said for its other foray into PNM urban territory in San Fernando West. The COP has positioned itself as an alternative to the PNM in these areas and one does not know how strong it really is right now, but Dookeran has done what few political leaders in our political culture would do, namely step down to clear the way for someone else while you are in power. Perhaps that is new politics.
The same could be said for its other foray into PNM urban territory in San Fernando West. The COP has positioned itself as an alternative to the PNM in these areas and one does not know how strong it really is right now, but Dookeran has done what few political leaders in our political culture would do, namely step down to clear the way for someone else while you are in power. Perhaps that is new politics.
The future of the Partnership will now be put into the hands of a new leader of the COP.
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