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| New voter? UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar stops to give some love to a baby ousisde the Shiva Boy's College in Penal where she voted Saturday in the UNC internal election (Newsday photo) |
The UNC is the first party in the country and the Caribbean to introduce voting for its leadership based on a one-member, one vote system. The Congress of the People (COP) has also adopted that system. However the People's National Movement (PNM), the country's oldest party, still uses the delegate system to elect its leaders and executive members.
Persad-Bissessar kept a distance from the election campaign that involved several independents and three slates, including led by former UNC Leader Basdeo Panday and another by Deputy Leader Roodal Moonilal. A third group was led by UNC activist Sunil Ramjitsingh.
Commenting on the preliminary result, which showed that Jack Warner was returned as chairman along with members of Moonilal's slate, Persad-Bissesssar said the voting system insulated the party and demonstrated that "no clique or group can own the party".
She also said the fact that 63 people put their names up for the 17 posts on the national executive (NATEX) was a sign that the UNC has ongoing support.
The political leader said the new executive will be "a very important" job to do as they "will need to keep their eyes and ears on the ground and give their support to the Government".
Persad-Bissessar was also "heartened" that the campaigns were conducted with dignity. She was not unduly worried about the low voter turnout of about 20 per cent of the 81,000 members, noting that even in general elections people chose not to vote.
Persad-Bissessar voted late in the day at the Shiva Boys' Hindu School, Clarke Road, Penal. Media reports say she was met at the school by UNC chairman Jack Warner, Deputy Leader Roodal Moonilal and Oropuche West MP Stacy Roopnarine.
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