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| UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar with her party's chairman, Jack Warner, (right) and three deputy leaders: Surujrattan Rambachan, Roodal Moonilal and Marlene Coudray. |
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| UNC founder Basdeo Panday and Kamla Persad-Bissessar at a political meeting before Kamla challenged Panday for the leadership of the UNC |
She did so as she installed its newly elected members of the UNC's national executive (NATEX).
Panday founded the UNC in 1989 and led the party in government between 1995 and 2001, first as a coalition with the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) and later as an independent party with the defection of two People's National Movement (PNM) members - Dr Rupert Griffith and Dr Vincent Lasse.
Persad-Bissessar told her party it must never forget Panday's vision and commitment during the UNC's early years. However she said there were errors as well from which the UNC must learn.
"He guided us through the formative years and under his leadership, led us into government 17 years ago. Today, new leadership has emerged, in a more enlightened age, one where the people demand more and leaders must rise to the many modern challenges in service to the people," she said.
"We have matured into a national party with a collective leadership that has created an enabling environment in which we listen to each other and most importantly to you.
"I remember your hurt and disillusionment when our party floundered in opposition splintering and fragmenting at times. I felt the sting of your disenchantment in those days. But today we recognise that it was part of the growing pains of becoming that truly national party which we have become today," she said.
Persad-Bissessar defeated Panday in the party's election in January 2010. "It was in taking up that challenge that I called for an end of the 'siege', an end to the 'betrayal of trust' that people placed in us, and an end to 'political tribalism'. I recognised that changing times demanded change first in our party, if we were ever to truly make a contribution to change in our country," she said.
Persad-Bissessar called on her supporters to be vigilant and determined in defending their political party.
"As prime minister and as political leader of the United National Congress —I want to know that our people not only feel themselves to be part of the process of change, but also take an active part as important partners in shaping a sustainable future for our nation," she said.
Persad-Bissessar said as the People's Partnership entered its third year in government, the fight against crime would be a major priority.
Persad-Bissessar told her party it must never forget Panday's vision and commitment during the UNC's early years. However she said there were errors as well from which the UNC must learn.
"He guided us through the formative years and under his leadership, led us into government 17 years ago. Today, new leadership has emerged, in a more enlightened age, one where the people demand more and leaders must rise to the many modern challenges in service to the people," she said.
"We have matured into a national party with a collective leadership that has created an enabling environment in which we listen to each other and most importantly to you.
"I remember your hurt and disillusionment when our party floundered in opposition splintering and fragmenting at times. I felt the sting of your disenchantment in those days. But today we recognise that it was part of the growing pains of becoming that truly national party which we have become today," she said.
Persad-Bissessar defeated Panday in the party's election in January 2010. "It was in taking up that challenge that I called for an end of the 'siege', an end to the 'betrayal of trust' that people placed in us, and an end to 'political tribalism'. I recognised that changing times demanded change first in our party, if we were ever to truly make a contribution to change in our country," she said.
Persad-Bissessar called on her supporters to be vigilant and determined in defending their political party.
"As prime minister and as political leader of the United National Congress —I want to know that our people not only feel themselves to be part of the process of change, but also take an active part as important partners in shaping a sustainable future for our nation," she said.
Persad-Bissessar said as the People's Partnership entered its third year in government, the fight against crime would be a major priority.
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