snowbird
10-04-2007, 06:03 AM
(source Trinidad Guardian)
Thursday 4th October, 2007
Talks on Alliance leadership continue today Kamla a front-runner
Kamla Persad-Bissessar ...turns down COP
UNC deputy leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has turned down last Friday’s invitation by COP leader Winston Dookeran to join his party.
Dookeran said this week that he had issued the invitation to Persad-Bissessar at the last sitting of Parliament on Friday.
He said he would “say no more” on the situation.
But yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said, “This is not the first time Mr Dookeran has invited me to join them, but I am a member of the UNC and already heavily-involved in UNC matters.” (GA)
By Gail Alexander
Discussions which took place on Tuesday on the post of UNC Alliance leader have now seen UNC deputy leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar emerging as the front-runner for the post, sources said after the meeting.
The discussions are due to continue today and should be finalised when UNC deputy leader Jack Warner returns home.
The position is to be finalised in time for Sunday’s Alliance launch in Chaguanas.
Alliance partners said Tuesday’s meeting on the post focused on the political assets and liabilities of various members of the Leadership Council, including Persad-Bissessar, Warner and Stephen Cadiz.
Sources said Persad-Bissessar was, so far, seen as a front-runner because of her popularity.
It was felt, they added, that she could not only hold the UNC base which was important to the Alliance—due to the existence of the rival Congress of the People (COP)—but she could also attract further support.
It was felt, sources said, that Persad-Bissessar, more than other personalities, was strong enough to hold the traditional UNC base against inroads from the COP, led by Dookeran and other former UNC members.
It was also made clear, in the debate on Tuesday, that Persad-Bissessar would function as a leader on her own, fully independent of other UNC personalities, including UNC leader Basdeo Panday.
No decision was made at Tuesday’s meeting since Warner—who went overseas on Monday—is due to return home today.
The meeting is scheduled to continue at 1.30 pm today with further discussions and would finalise the matter.
Looking for a PM
figure—Charles
Contacted yesterday, National Democratic Alliance leader Carson Charles said Tuesday’s meeting went well and would continue today.
“Mr Panday’s recent statements on the issue have been right,” he said.
“We’re not seeking to appoint a leader of leaders since the Alliance comprises five leaders already.
“We’re seeking to identify the person who will be Prime Minister if the Alliance wins elections. “We feel we owe it to the people to be able to point out to them who this person will be and that he will be the leader of an Alliance government and he will lead the Alliance team into elections.”
Yesterday, Panday also reiterated: “There can be no head or foot of the Alliance since it already has five leaders.
“Jack Warner is the convenor of the Alliance and the Leadership Council is taking the group into elections,” he said.
“We have a pool of people whose expertise has been tried and tested.”
Panday said he would fight Couva North again if the people wanted him to.
Panday will still be in charge—Ganga
Yesterday, COP’s Ganga Singh said Panday would remain in charge even if Persad-Bissessar, Jack Warner or Stephen Cadiz were appointed Alliance leader.
“One of them would be the dulahin and Panday would be the lukini—therefore, they will be laundering Panday’s image and COP will have no part of that Alliance regardless of who becomes leader,” Singh said.
Way too many Chiefs; if you add RML to that fray, you get a mass of egos, all with their own agendas, that can only ignite into five more years of internal fighting.
Thursday 4th October, 2007
Talks on Alliance leadership continue today Kamla a front-runner
Kamla Persad-Bissessar ...turns down COP
UNC deputy leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has turned down last Friday’s invitation by COP leader Winston Dookeran to join his party.
Dookeran said this week that he had issued the invitation to Persad-Bissessar at the last sitting of Parliament on Friday.
He said he would “say no more” on the situation.
But yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said, “This is not the first time Mr Dookeran has invited me to join them, but I am a member of the UNC and already heavily-involved in UNC matters.” (GA)
By Gail Alexander
Discussions which took place on Tuesday on the post of UNC Alliance leader have now seen UNC deputy leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar emerging as the front-runner for the post, sources said after the meeting.
The discussions are due to continue today and should be finalised when UNC deputy leader Jack Warner returns home.
The position is to be finalised in time for Sunday’s Alliance launch in Chaguanas.
Alliance partners said Tuesday’s meeting on the post focused on the political assets and liabilities of various members of the Leadership Council, including Persad-Bissessar, Warner and Stephen Cadiz.
Sources said Persad-Bissessar was, so far, seen as a front-runner because of her popularity.
It was felt, they added, that she could not only hold the UNC base which was important to the Alliance—due to the existence of the rival Congress of the People (COP)—but she could also attract further support.
It was felt, sources said, that Persad-Bissessar, more than other personalities, was strong enough to hold the traditional UNC base against inroads from the COP, led by Dookeran and other former UNC members.
It was also made clear, in the debate on Tuesday, that Persad-Bissessar would function as a leader on her own, fully independent of other UNC personalities, including UNC leader Basdeo Panday.
No decision was made at Tuesday’s meeting since Warner—who went overseas on Monday—is due to return home today.
The meeting is scheduled to continue at 1.30 pm today with further discussions and would finalise the matter.
Looking for a PM
figure—Charles
Contacted yesterday, National Democratic Alliance leader Carson Charles said Tuesday’s meeting went well and would continue today.
“Mr Panday’s recent statements on the issue have been right,” he said.
“We’re not seeking to appoint a leader of leaders since the Alliance comprises five leaders already.
“We’re seeking to identify the person who will be Prime Minister if the Alliance wins elections. “We feel we owe it to the people to be able to point out to them who this person will be and that he will be the leader of an Alliance government and he will lead the Alliance team into elections.”
Yesterday, Panday also reiterated: “There can be no head or foot of the Alliance since it already has five leaders.
“Jack Warner is the convenor of the Alliance and the Leadership Council is taking the group into elections,” he said.
“We have a pool of people whose expertise has been tried and tested.”
Panday said he would fight Couva North again if the people wanted him to.
Panday will still be in charge—Ganga
Yesterday, COP’s Ganga Singh said Panday would remain in charge even if Persad-Bissessar, Jack Warner or Stephen Cadiz were appointed Alliance leader.
“One of them would be the dulahin and Panday would be the lukini—therefore, they will be laundering Panday’s image and COP will have no part of that Alliance regardless of who becomes leader,” Singh said.
Way too many Chiefs; if you add RML to that fray, you get a mass of egos, all with their own agendas, that can only ignite into five more years of internal fighting.