UNC chairman thinks COP leader was hasty; Warner says he takes instruction from Kamla alone

The chairman of the United National Congress (UNC) told the Express newspaper on Monday Prakash Ramadhar should not made public the details of a letter he sent last Friday to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Jack Warner was commenting on statements made by the leader of the Congress of the People (COP) on Sunday.

Ramadhar told reporters he had written Pertsad-Bissessar seeking an urgent meeting of all the leaders of the People's partnership before the end of the year to discuss a number of critical issues, including the performance of the coalition since it got into government. 

Ramadhar's letter stated: "The time has come to assess the performance of the Partnership and the Government. 

"While all of us would no doubt agree that in just a year and a half, the People's Partnership Government has achieved much and has made great strides in righting the wrongs of the past, much of the population is nonetheless frustrated.

"Increasing racial tensions, the perception of unacceptable levels of corruption and a non-functioning Partnership structure are undermining the credibility of the Government."

The UNC is the principal partner in the coalition which includes COP, the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), the Tobago Organistaion of the People (TOP)and the  National Joint Action Committee (NJAC).

Warner said he believes Ramadhar was a bit hasty. 

"I think it is premature for any leader to disclose the contents of a letter he sent to the Prime Minister 24 hours ago or Friday for that matter," Warner said. He added, "I don't know how they operate but my style will be different and the Prime Minister did say that everything is well."

Warner said, "There will be differences of opinion which, of course, are healthy. In any event, there will be all kinds of teething problems in a coalition because it is something new. But I think that if we sit down as dispassionate people and discuss these ideas instead of in the view of the public, it will be better for all of us."

Warner said he will take instructions only from Persad-Bissessar.

"I am the party chairman. He asked for the party leader and if I have to go, the Prime Minister will have to call me, not Mr Ramadhar."