Asked for his comment Tuesday, Warner said he agrees with his leader, saying Moonilal is young and bright and eminently qualified to the lead the party and the country. Warner, who is the chairman of the UNC, reiterated that he was never interested in being the leader of the party.
The Prime Minister endorsed Moonilal Sunday at a reception at San Fernando Hill in honour of Moonilal's graduation as a lawyer. It was the latest string of academic success for Moonilal, who is one of the deputy political leaders of the United National Congress (UNC). The other deputies are Suruj Rambachan and Lyndira Oudit.
"If anything should happen to me, God forbid, I see Dr Moonilal being my successor," Persad-Bissessar told her audience, which included ministers Chandresh Sharma, Glenn Ramadharsingh and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.
Less that one year ago both Warner and Persad-Bissessar were on opposite sides in the political battle for the leadership of the UNC.
Moonilal was one of the key campaigners on the Basdeo Panday team; Persad-Bissessar and Warner were campaigning against Panday.
In the end, Panday's team suffered a humiliating 10-1 defeat, with Moonilal emerging as the only who won a seat in the 18-member national executive.
Once the election was out of the way Persad-Bissessar kept her pledge to embrace everyone and heal the deep wounds that the party had suffered after years of bickering. Today Moonilal holds the housing and environment portfolio in the People's Partnership cabinet.
Moonilal told reporters he is "deeply humbled and honoured that the Prime Minister has reposed such faith in my ability and confidence in my potential for leadership".
However he reminded everyone that he is a team player who will "always see success as the outcome of the contributions of all members of our high performance team."
He added, "This also speaks volumes about the Hon Prime Minister, since at the height of her popularity, with a full term ahead of her, and quite reasonably another five-year term , the PM can still contemplate on successorship.
"This suggests the confidence and character of the PM, when previous leaders saw themselves as irreplaceable and indispensable, the incumbent PM sees the future of her party and the nation with maturity and clear purpose befitting the highest democratic values akin to the culture of a developed country," he said.
Moonilal also thanked Ramlogan, who spoke at the function and also expressed full confidence in Moonilal's work and future. Ramlogan, who at 37 is the country's youngest AG, thanked Moonilal for inspiring him in his political life and work"
Moonilal began his political career as a "UNC youth" and was one of the people present when the party was launched.
He first entered electoral politics in the 2000 election as the replacement candidate opposing Patrick Manning in San Fernando East after the UNC candidate, former PNM minister Muriel Donawa Mc Davidson, pulled out due to ill health.
His "sacrifice" was recognised and rewarded in the 2001 election when he defeated Trevor Sudama for the Oropouche East seat that he now holds. Sudama was one of three former Panday cabinet ministers who joined former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj's Team Unity in that election.
No comments:
Post a Comment