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| File: Jack Warner: "You leaving a Government to go and start a party? In the fullness of time he will see the error of his ways." |
The chairman of the United National Congress (UNC) said he was "not surprised" by Abdulah's announcement, adding that it is merely a "bump or a hump" in the political road.
Warner was speaking with reporters after a stakeholders discussion on the new traffic plans for Woodbrook and St James yesterday at the Ministry of Works on Richmond Street, Port of Spain.
"If he feels it is better outside the People's Partnership than inside then good luck to him. One would have thought that he would have been of more value to his party and his union from inside the Government than outside it," Warner said.
"You leaving a Government to go and start a party? In the fullness of time he will see the error of his ways," he said.
Warner challenged the MSJ to call a mass membership meeting and invite him to it, because he wanted to see how many members they really had.
Warner noted that Abdulah was always in an awkward position trying to please both the Government and the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU). He is general secretary of the union.
"He serves two masters, one the OWTU whose purpose in life is to bring this Government down, and two, he serves this Government whose purpose in life is to improve the lives of the people in this country, so the two are polarised," he said.
He reiterated that the partnership is not weaker with the MSJ's departure. "I have already said one from five does not leave four, it leaves the People's Partnership," he said.
Warner said Abdulah's resignation may even leave the party stronger as now they only have to focus on external attacks and not internal friction.
He said he did not see Labour Minister Errol McLeod's remaining with the Government after MSJ's departure posing a problem.
"He went up on a UNC (United National Congress) ticket, not MSJ, they were not around as a party then," he said, adding, "we are able now to stay focused and live as a party, as a group, once again," he said.
"You leaving a Government to go and start a party? In the fullness of time he will see the error of his ways," he said.
Warner challenged the MSJ to call a mass membership meeting and invite him to it, because he wanted to see how many members they really had.
Warner noted that Abdulah was always in an awkward position trying to please both the Government and the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU). He is general secretary of the union.
"He serves two masters, one the OWTU whose purpose in life is to bring this Government down, and two, he serves this Government whose purpose in life is to improve the lives of the people in this country, so the two are polarised," he said.
He reiterated that the partnership is not weaker with the MSJ's departure. "I have already said one from five does not leave four, it leaves the People's Partnership," he said.
Warner said Abdulah's resignation may even leave the party stronger as now they only have to focus on external attacks and not internal friction.
He said he did not see Labour Minister Errol McLeod's remaining with the Government after MSJ's departure posing a problem.
"He went up on a UNC (United National Congress) ticket, not MSJ, they were not around as a party then," he said, adding, "we are able now to stay focused and live as a party, as a group, once again," he said.
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