UNC MNF goes to St Augustine; Prakash joins Kamla on joint platform

File: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar with St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar

The United National Congress is holding Monday's political forum (MNF) in the St Augustine constituency, which is represented by Congress of the People (COP) leader, Prakash Ramadhar.

And reports say Ramadhar would not only welcome members of the People's Partnership (PP) coalition, he would also deliver an address at the meeting at the Tunapuna Hindu School on Monday night, starting at 7:00 PM.

The United National Congress (UNC), the largest partner in the coalition, has been holding its meetings to keep citizens updated on national and other developments but has generally held the meetings in UNC-held constituencies.

COP members have attended some meetings and spoke on the platform, the most vocal COP member being Anil Roberts, who spoke briefly at last Monday's meeting in Gasparillo.

Ramadhar's decision to speak at the meeting is a significant development, which the Team COP-UNC online site described as showing strength in the partnership. PP Growing Stronger, it declared in an announcement about Ramadhar speaking at the meeting.

Last Month Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed, who is a member of COP, defied a party directive not to speak at UNC meetings. 

At that time COP chairman, Carloyn Seepersad-Bachan, did not comment directly on Mohammed's decision. However she told local media there was an understanding that no COP member would speak on the UNC platform.

“We had indicated that we were not ready to participate until we have met, engaged the other parties and agree to a format. We will have a national executive meeting to discuss that issue," Seepersad-Bachan said. 

"Only to say that the position the party took is one we had indicated before, at our last chairmen’s meeting, that we will not be participating in any joint platform meetings until the parties meet and agree to objectives of the meetings.”

Following that statement she had indicated that there would soon be a change in the party's constitution that would allow the COP to discipline "errant" MPs.