As the results of the UNC internal elections faded very quickly from the forefront of the political imagination in less than a week, the only political story that dominated the headlines was the public row between Prakash Ramadhar and Marlene Coudray.
Ramadhar was breathing fire and brimstone over the conversion of Coudray from COP to UNC and the loss of the mayorship of San Fernando by the COP to the UNC.
The above column by Dr Hamid Ghany was reproduced from the Sunday Guardian with the permission of the author
Ramadhar was breathing fire and brimstone over the conversion of Coudray from COP to UNC and the loss of the mayorship of San Fernando by the COP to the UNC.
In what was a clear demonstration of political pique, Ramadhar made it clear that if a COP Mayor of San Fernando was not put in place to replace Coudray, then the COP would have to reconsider its status in the People’s Partnership.
Coudray fired back at Ramadhar arguing that she was confused about his statements and she challenged him to prove that she was nominated for the post of mayor by the COP.
Coudray fired back at Ramadhar arguing that she was confused about his statements and she challenged him to prove that she was nominated for the post of mayor by the COP.
Not to be left out of the internal wrangling, the MSJ decided to throw in its two cents to say that the COP was right to raise the issue. Needless to say, they saw bargaining power for themselves in their own internal demands for action on various matters that they have demanded be addressed by May 24 instant.
As if all of this linen was not too much for these parties to wash in public using the People’s Partnership scrubbing board, along came Minister Anil Roberts to chide his leader for mishandling the matter and suggesting that the Partnership is still strong.
The reality is that the UNC may have found a fault line in the COP and with all of this public bickering, it is possible that the COP could crack, especially if Anil Roberts continues to push his public stance against Ramadhar.
As if all of this linen was not too much for these parties to wash in public using the People’s Partnership scrubbing board, along came Minister Anil Roberts to chide his leader for mishandling the matter and suggesting that the Partnership is still strong.
The reality is that the UNC may have found a fault line in the COP and with all of this public bickering, it is possible that the COP could crack, especially if Anil Roberts continues to push his public stance against Ramadhar.
This was reminiscent of the internal leadership elections for the COP last year and one got the feeling that Roberts wanted to offer a different COP perspective. Perhaps, the fact that Ramadhar went public did not prevent Roberts from going public too.
The whole episode raises the question about whether the members of the Partnership are genuine about what they told the public in the general election of May 2010 or whether this was just a charade about who would get which post and who would not.
One would have thought that the concept of coalition and partnership was made of sterner stuff, but apparently it is not. If a switch of allegiance from one party to another inside the tent of the Partnership by a mayor could produce a public threat to walk away from the Partnership, then what are we dealing with?
The negative pole in the Partnership battery was the removal of Patrick Manning and the PNM from power. The positive pole in the Partnership battery was the presence and appeal of Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The whole episode raises the question about whether the members of the Partnership are genuine about what they told the public in the general election of May 2010 or whether this was just a charade about who would get which post and who would not.
One would have thought that the concept of coalition and partnership was made of sterner stuff, but apparently it is not. If a switch of allegiance from one party to another inside the tent of the Partnership by a mayor could produce a public threat to walk away from the Partnership, then what are we dealing with?
The negative pole in the Partnership battery was the removal of Patrick Manning and the PNM from power. The positive pole in the Partnership battery was the presence and appeal of Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
With a two-year service check-up on the Partnership vehicle looming, it seems that a peek under the bonnet is showing signs of battery corrosion already.
What is happening? The COP and the MSJ have both changed leaders and these are the only two parties talking about reconsidering their relationship in the Partnership. It appears that what is transpiring here is the public culmination of a longer feud inside the COP that has been festering for some time.
There is no evidence to show that the COP regarded Coudray as one of its shining members who was a model activist for the party while serving as mayor. However, all of a sudden she is being missed? Was she having regular caucus meetings with the COP leadership to discuss policy matters? It would appear not.
One gets the impression that she was in the COP wilderness and the switch to the UNC without their knowledge caught the COP off guard and they reacted. The COP needs to be careful that the more that the leadership makes public statements on the matter, the more they are likely to split the party.
All of this is going on while the COP hierarchy is simultaneously calling on the Lopinot Bon Air West constituency of the party to desist from publicly airing their matter to do with the COP MP Dr Lincoln Douglas.
What is happening? The COP and the MSJ have both changed leaders and these are the only two parties talking about reconsidering their relationship in the Partnership. It appears that what is transpiring here is the public culmination of a longer feud inside the COP that has been festering for some time.
There is no evidence to show that the COP regarded Coudray as one of its shining members who was a model activist for the party while serving as mayor. However, all of a sudden she is being missed? Was she having regular caucus meetings with the COP leadership to discuss policy matters? It would appear not.
One gets the impression that she was in the COP wilderness and the switch to the UNC without their knowledge caught the COP off guard and they reacted. The COP needs to be careful that the more that the leadership makes public statements on the matter, the more they are likely to split the party.
All of this is going on while the COP hierarchy is simultaneously calling on the Lopinot Bon Air West constituency of the party to desist from publicly airing their matter to do with the COP MP Dr Lincoln Douglas.
The COP appears to have lost some of its self-imposed party discipline by going public again on another matter to do with the Partnership. It is time for them to close ranks and have an internal heart-to-heart about what really went on here.
Was Marlene Coudray COP just in name only and UNC in internal belief? Is crossing the floor inside the Partnership permitted or is it just like belonging to a single dominant hegemonic political party that does not want to share power?
If the public battle between Anil Roberts and Prakash Ramadhar continues, the COP may come under internal pressure and fracture. A fractured COP may suit the UNC inside the Partnership and help to catapult the political career of Marlene Coudray as a strong woman who can take on the leader of the COP and win, just like she did Patrick Manning.
Was Marlene Coudray COP just in name only and UNC in internal belief? Is crossing the floor inside the Partnership permitted or is it just like belonging to a single dominant hegemonic political party that does not want to share power?
If the public battle between Anil Roberts and Prakash Ramadhar continues, the COP may come under internal pressure and fracture. A fractured COP may suit the UNC inside the Partnership and help to catapult the political career of Marlene Coudray as a strong woman who can take on the leader of the COP and win, just like she did Patrick Manning.
The above column by Dr Hamid Ghany was reproduced from the Sunday Guardian with the permission of the author
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