Mahabir confident that he will be new UNC chairman; pledges to rebrand party

Ashwani Mahabir with supporters

Although there are at least four candidates for the post of Chairman of the United National Congress (UNC) in next week's party election, the focus is on two men - Attorney Ashvani Mahabir and the current chairman Jack Warner. The two others are Asha Sooknanan and Mooniram Heru.

Mahabir, who has been a close ally of Warner is the past, has told reporters he is confident that he will defeat Warner. "I am extremely confident based on what I have been hearing on the ground,” Mahabir said last week, noting that he has the time and competence to "to rebrand" the party.

“This is an internal election of the UNC, not a general election. This is about track record in terms of party performance and not necessarily that of ministerial performance. 

"The person in Diego Martin who say Mr Warner fixed their bridge can’t vote in this election, you know,” Mahabir said.

Mahabir is getting the support of the powerful Sanatan Dharma Maha sabha (SDMS), the largest Hindu organisation in Trinidad and Tobago.

The election next Saturday is based on a one member, one vote system, which makes it diffuclt for anyone to effectively gauge support. There are about 25,000 registered UNC members who are eligible to vote. 

Mahabir has not questioned Warner's competence as a cabinet minister. However he believes there is a need to effect major change in the party with an enhanced image and fresh ideas.

He claimed that the party’s institutions are not operational and that the UNC is not connected as it should be on the Internet.

“I don’t think that Jack Warner, or anyone else has any divine right or any God-given right or hold over party chairmanship,” Mahabir said.