He was speaking at a public meeting in St. Augustine. The contest for chairman is among Warner and his former political researcher, Attorney Ashwani Mahabir, and a third candidate, Mooniram Heru. Warner told his audience he is the best of the three since he is the only one with the experience to effect change.
He reminded his audience of his 2009 challenge to make the party accountable to the membership, which he did through the Movement for Change. It is his agitation for democracy within the UNC and the demand for overdue internal election that paved the way for Kamla Persad-Bissessar to become leader of the UNC and later, Prime Minister.
He said today the party faces a new threat that has the potential to undo the work that was started in 2009. "It is a threat that...if allowed to be perpetuated by an influential few can result in our Party losing its national character." he said.
"It is a threat perpetuated by those alien to service. It is a threat which is a stranger to those who continue to refuse to remain accessible to the membership of this party.
"It is the type of threat which has become synonymous with those whose pursuit is predicated on greed and power and not really the emancipation of the membership, the activists, the loyal ground troops who election after election work hard to make this Party the best political solution for Trinidad and Tobago," the Chaguanas West MP said.
He urged UNC members to think carefully about those offering themselves to serve in the party's executive and choose only those who are the best to represent the membership.
"Have these persons who are offering themselves for service again and some for the first time been accessible to you during the period 2010 – 2012? When you call their cell phones do they answer or is there the cold chilling voice of a digital recording asking you to leave a message which is never returned?" he asked.
He said Saturday's election is an opportunity for UNC members to let their voices be heard. "Vote for persons who would never forget your loyalty to this Party both in good and bad times," he said.
Warner said allegiance to the Prime Minister must not be the reason for electing someone. He reminded supporters that under Basdeo Panday loyalty did not matter because "many persons on the National Executive who were loyal to him and still the UNC could not free itself and get into government."
He challenged anyone to demonstrate that he is not loyal to his political leader. "The question I ask is where were some persons when Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar was elected political leader in the Internal Elections of 2010 but yet could not muster enough votes to be appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament? Where were they then?
"Where were some persons when hands needed to be twisted, when moral suasion was the shrewd methodology in negotiations to convince nine opposition parliamentarians to vote in support of her? Who was the person behind that support who strained every nerve and sinew night and day to make it happen? Wasn’t it Jack Warner?" he asked.
"Who tenaciously defended Ms. Kamla Persad Bissessar during the Internal Elections of the UNC 2010 when Panday launched a scathing attack on her character and her readiness as a leader?
"There may be those who are not sober enough to understand the hard work and tenacity that has this Party where it is today, either that or they are too dishonest to speak the truth," he said.
Warner said there is no other candidate vying for the position of Chairman who holds a track record of defending this Party over the last seven years as he has. He said none of them has the record of helping defeat Panday and Patrick Manning. "The records are clear and no one can deny that the only candidate who has achieved this feat is Jack Warner," he declared.
He reminded the audience that in the most difficult times he stood with his party and never deserted. He urged the UNC members to examine all contenders "and if they do not have that track record of seeking the interest of the UNC unwaveringly you cannot vote for that".
He added, "In April, 2010, when Patrick Manning foolishly called a snap election this Chairman was ready and the UNC won. In June, 2010 when the People’s Partnership called the Local Government Elections, this Chairman was ready and, my people, we won.
"In 2013 when Local Government Elections are called this Chairman will again be ready and the PNM can be guaranteed defeat. So too in 2015, Jack Warner will still be ready to champion the cause of the UNC and lead as Chairman the party to a second term of office," he pledged.
He reiterated a point he made in Rio Claro the night before that he will be chairman for all and that he would always be accessible to the members of the party.
"Give me 15,000 votes. Send a strong message to all pretenders. Send it clear to remind them that the power of this great Party lies with its membership, its activists, its ground troops, its street captains. In a word, it lies with YOU!"
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