Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj told reporters Friday one of his priorities is to unite the United National Congress (UNC) and the Congress of the People (COP).That's a goal that has so far eluded the leaders of both parties but it is one of the things the former attorney general has identified as a priority if he wins the January 24 internal election.
Maharaj, who is challenging his leader, Basdeo Panday, for the UNC's top post made the point in a news conference to formally announce that he will run in the election.
The Tabaquite MP has become the only person in the history of the UNC to challenge Panday for the leadership in an open party vote. He told reporters he plans to launch his campaign Saturday in his constituency.
So far he is the only declared candidate in the race other than the incumbent. There is a strong lobby for UNC Deputy Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to run and some of that is coming from Maharaj's own colleagues.
Maharaj is confident about his chances, saying members of the party will support him because they know that in the present leadership structure the party has no chance of returning to government.
"They’ll see the only person available in the UNC to put them into Government is me—and I believe the UNC membership will go for that,” he said.
Maharaj added that the country needs strong leadership at this time and said that is what he offered when he was in government and that is what he would continue to offer.
"When I was in Government, I had the criminals on the run. Citizens were safe in their homes, at work and on the streets," he said noting that he can speak with credibility on issues of "integrity in public life, corruption and crime."
Maharaj was attorney general when Dole Chadee and eight members of his notorious criminal gang were convicted of murdering a family and hanged. He was also the person who first raised corruption allegations in the Panday administration, which led to his dismissal as attorney general and his subsequent fight with Panday.
Maharaj's confidence was brimming over as he announced priorities as leader of the UNC, as he suggested that it is time to put the past behind and move forward to unite the opposition and win the next election.
He said his priority would be to make the UNC strong enough to win an election on its own it he cannot unite the opposition.
Maharaj also clarified his position with respect to his colleague, Chaguanas MP Jack Warner, who had said previously that he would support Persad-Bissessar if she ran for the leadership.
Maharaj said he had told Warner he would make a decision on his return home from London because he wanted the decision to be based on discussions with party members.
Some Ramjack members have expressed "surprise" over Maharaj's decision but Maharaj is confident that even if Ramjack members support "other people" his position would be secure because the whole rationale for forming the group was to effect change in the UNC and that is what is about to happen.
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