The Congress of the People is not pleased with the manner in which its coalition partner, the United National Congress, has handled the matter of inviting the mayor of San Fernando to run for one of the three posts of Deputy Leader of the UNC in Saturday's party election.
COP Chairman Joseph Toney has issued a medias release, commenting on what he called "poaching" by the UNC.
"While we respect the right for anyone to join and support the political party of their choice, the COP views the poaching of its members as contrary to the principles of the Fyzabad declaration.
"The party expected the UNC operatives to be more civil in the recruitment of Mrs. Coudray from the COP," Toney said.He added that such actions will create mistrust among the partners of the People's Partnership and could seriously erode the strength of the coalition.
"Furthermore it can irreversibly damage the overwhelming trust that the electorate gave us in May 2010.
"The Congress of the People wishes to state that it will not condone such sinister behaviour and strongly condemns the action of poaching by any unit of the People's Partnership.
"We extend best wishes to Mayor Coudray and hopes she finds peace and comfort in her new political home."
Coudray ran as the COP candidate for San Fernando West in the 2007 general election and lost to the PNM's Junia Regrello. In 2010 the party chose Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, who won the seat. Coudray was later made an Alderman and elected Mayor of San Fernando.
UNC Deputy Leader Roodal Moonilal has dismissed COP's concerns. In a media interview he said Coudray followed all the UNC's stringent rules for nomination and was well qualified to be a candidate.
With respect to the "poaching" issue he said COP should not be pointing fingers at the UNC since it was formed out of the membership of the UNC. COP's founding leader, WinstonDookeran, was the leader of the UNC who walked away from the party and formed COP, taking thousands of UNC members with him.
Many of those people returned to the UNC after Kamla Persad-Bissessar became leader of the UNC.
Moonilal said, "Ninety per cent of COP’s membership are made up of former UNC members. So what if one COP member joins the UNC?” Moonilal said.
Marlen Courdray filed her nomination papers Sunday and admitted to reporters that she had not informed her former leader, Prakash Ramadhar, of her decision. She said she would do it "in good time". She also said she had not been active inCOP for a long time.
COP Chairman Joseph Toney has issued a medias release, commenting on what he called "poaching" by the UNC.
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| File: COP Chairman Joseph Toney |
"The party expected the UNC operatives to be more civil in the recruitment of Mrs. Coudray from the COP," Toney said.He added that such actions will create mistrust among the partners of the People's Partnership and could seriously erode the strength of the coalition.
"Furthermore it can irreversibly damage the overwhelming trust that the electorate gave us in May 2010.
"The Congress of the People wishes to state that it will not condone such sinister behaviour and strongly condemns the action of poaching by any unit of the People's Partnership.
"We extend best wishes to Mayor Coudray and hopes she finds peace and comfort in her new political home."
Coudray ran as the COP candidate for San Fernando West in the 2007 general election and lost to the PNM's Junia Regrello. In 2010 the party chose Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, who won the seat. Coudray was later made an Alderman and elected Mayor of San Fernando.
UNC Deputy Leader Roodal Moonilal has dismissed COP's concerns. In a media interview he said Coudray followed all the UNC's stringent rules for nomination and was well qualified to be a candidate.
With respect to the "poaching" issue he said COP should not be pointing fingers at the UNC since it was formed out of the membership of the UNC. COP's founding leader, WinstonDookeran, was the leader of the UNC who walked away from the party and formed COP, taking thousands of UNC members with him.
Many of those people returned to the UNC after Kamla Persad-Bissessar became leader of the UNC.
Moonilal said, "Ninety per cent of COP’s membership are made up of former UNC members. So what if one COP member joins the UNC?” Moonilal said.
He added that the “fluidity” between the different parties in the coalition is a good and healthy thing.
"At one time I supported Winston Dookeran and he went to the COP," Moonilal said. "I don’t believe in constraining citizens. Chaining people to a political party is not an option."
He was confident that there will be no split in the People’s Partnership coalition Government. When asked the question he replied: "Absolutely not."
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