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| Jack Warner and Kamla Persad-Bissessar following the 2010 UNC internal election |
The Chaguanas West MP and Works and Infrastructure Minister won the position in the party's internal election on January 24, 2010. Elections are scheduled again for March this year and Warner has been having doubts about whether to run or not.
In an interview with the Trinidad Express he seemed to be disenchanted with politics.
"Let me tell you the truth, if I could have seen into the future, I would not have entered politics," he told the paper.
However, he did not drop the idea of staying and fighting. "If I don't go up it will be a defeatist attitude and I don't run from anything, but it may be time to pass the baton on," he said.
Warner told the paper his chairmanship helped bridge the racial divide and kept the UNC from being a totally 'Indian' party.
He is one of five non-Indians who were elected to the party's 18-member national executive, headed by political leader, PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The others are Don Sylvester, Barrington "Skippy" Thomas, Yvette Richards and Daphne Phillips.
The executive has three deputy political leaders: Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communication; Dr Roodal Moonilal, MInister of Housing and the Environment and Senate Vice President, Lyndira Oudit.
The vice chairman is Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan. (Click here for the full executive).
Warner defeated Vasant Bharath by more than 7,000 votes to win the chairmanship in 2010 and he told JYOTI recently if he decides to run he is confident that he will defeat any challenger.
Commenting on his position within the party, Warner told the Express, "I would have thought that my being UNC chairman was in the UNC's interest for all the right reasons."
He added that his absence from the executive would send all the wrong signals, especially to supporter in the east West Corridor. "People already calling the party Hindu fundamentalist, if you go that route your corridor is lost, you lose the Government," he said.
Warner has always said he entered politics because he wants to serve the people. And during his campaign against UNC founding leader, Basdeo Panday, he insisted that the UNC is the right political vehicle to serve the country because of its beliefs in a justice, equality and service.
As an MP and minister he has refused the perks offered by the jobs and takes only one dollar a month from his salary. The rest goes to a foundation to help people in his constituency. He has done that since he was first elected as an MP in 2007.
Warner has no interest in politics outside of his party and he has always said his ambition is not to lead his party, but to make it professional.
The executive has three deputy political leaders: Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communication; Dr Roodal Moonilal, MInister of Housing and the Environment and Senate Vice President, Lyndira Oudit.
The vice chairman is Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan. (Click here for the full executive).
Warner defeated Vasant Bharath by more than 7,000 votes to win the chairmanship in 2010 and he told JYOTI recently if he decides to run he is confident that he will defeat any challenger.
Commenting on his position within the party, Warner told the Express, "I would have thought that my being UNC chairman was in the UNC's interest for all the right reasons."
He added that his absence from the executive would send all the wrong signals, especially to supporter in the east West Corridor. "People already calling the party Hindu fundamentalist, if you go that route your corridor is lost, you lose the Government," he said.
Warner has always said he entered politics because he wants to serve the people. And during his campaign against UNC founding leader, Basdeo Panday, he insisted that the UNC is the right political vehicle to serve the country because of its beliefs in a justice, equality and service.
As an MP and minister he has refused the perks offered by the jobs and takes only one dollar a month from his salary. The rest goes to a foundation to help people in his constituency. He has done that since he was first elected as an MP in 2007.
Warner has no interest in politics outside of his party and he has always said his ambition is not to lead his party, but to make it professional.
He has always also said the country is too small for a third or fourth party. In 2007 the Manning PNM won the election because of the presence of a third party, the Congress of the People (COP). The combined opposition had a majority of votes but the PNM won 26 of the 41 seats.
Warner said the UNC and People's National Movement (PNM) remain the two major political contenders. "COP, in truth and in fact, by itself will never form the Government or the Opposition. That is the nature of the beast you have," he said.
Warner is determined to keep the PNM in opposition.
"We are not infallible, of course we made mistakes, but one of our strengths is that the PNM is so disorganised from top to bottom. But we must not rely on that and one of the things we have to do is account more to the people and deliver," he said.
Warner said the UNC and People's National Movement (PNM) remain the two major political contenders. "COP, in truth and in fact, by itself will never form the Government or the Opposition. That is the nature of the beast you have," he said.
Warner is determined to keep the PNM in opposition.
"We are not infallible, of course we made mistakes, but one of our strengths is that the PNM is so disorganised from top to bottom. But we must not rely on that and one of the things we have to do is account more to the people and deliver," he said.
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