PM Kamla won't campaign, endorse candidates for UNC elections

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is looking forward to the next political event on her calendar - the internal election of the United National Congress (UNC) on March 24.

Persad-Bissessar was elected leader of the party in a landslide victory two years ago. Four months later she united the opposition and defeated the Manning People's National Movement (PNM) in the historic general election.

Under the UNC's constitution elections for the national executive are held every two years. However this year the post of leader is not being contested.

The Prime Minister told the Guardian newspaper she will not be campaigning in the election and she has no plans to endorse any candidate.

"The party’s election is just a couple of weeks away and the election committee is gearing up for a smooth running of that election," she said. "We have fixed dates for nominations, but people are already campaigning," she added.

She said every member of the party has a right to contest or nominate a person to run for seat on the executive.