Kamla won't negotiate with Jack

File: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar won't negotiate with Jack Warner's Independent Liberal Party (ILP) to settle the matter of who controls the borough of Chaguanas.

The result of Monday's election show the UNC and PNM tied with three seats each with the other two going to the ILP. Preliminary numbers suggest that the ILP will get two of the four aldermen and the other parties would have one each.

This would mean that there would be a 4-4-4 tied with no one in control and no party being able to elect a mayor of deputy mayor unless there is some kind of compromise.

Persad-Bissessar told reporters she won't negotiate with a party that supports criminals, a clear reference to the ILP. During the campaign the UNC pointed out a number of candidates from the ILP had criminal records. 

Warner has claimed that there are efforts to get the two ILP councillors to desert the party. The Express newspaper said it spoke with Faaiq Mohammed, (Charlieville) and Simeon Mahabir (Munroe Road/Caroni Savannah Road) who confirmed that they will not leave their party.

Warner told the Express his representatives would follow party directives when it comes to electing the presiding officers, adding that he is waiting to see how the other parties would conduct themselves.

Warner also told the paper he would not seek an arrangement with the PP because when he asked for that during the Chaguanas West byelection the PM rejected his offer. And he added that the ILP is a strong political force and any party that wants to form the government would have to get the ILP's support.

"The ILP has proven itself to be better than COP, MSJ, TOP and NJAC,” Warner told the Express.

During the election campaign the ILP leader said he plans to meet with his former RAMJACK partner, Ramesh L. Maharaj, stating that it is time for RAMJACK to come back.

RAMJACK is the title that was given to the team of Warner and Maharaj (Mayaro MP Winston Peters was also a part of that team) that formed the Movement for Change that forced the UNC to hold internal elections in 2010.

Warner disbanded the Movement when the elections were announced. He refused to support Maharaj in the election and supported Persad-Bissessar in the leadership election, which she won in a landslide. Warner won the post of chairman of the UNC in that election.

Warner served as a senior cabinet minister for three years and resigned in April. He subsequently quit as chairman of the UNC and MP for Chaguanas West. He regained the seat in a byelection on July 29.