It’s time for UNC elections—Kamla

Now that Carnival is over, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has two things on her mind: The UNC’s internal elections and the revival of South mas. Speaking to Guardian Media Limited during an exclusive interview at her constituency office in Penal yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said the UNC’s party machinery was already gearing up for the internal elections which are scheduled for March 24.

However, she said she had no intention of campaigning as she did not wish to endorse any one candidate over another. Saying that interesting times were ahead, Persad-Bissessar noted: “The party’s election is just a couple of weeks away and the election committee is gearing up for a smooth running of that election.” She added: “We have fixed dates for nominations, but people are already campaigning, holding meetings and talking…I am sure that it will be a most interesting one.”

Asked whether there would be campaigning consistent with that of a general election, Persad-Bissessar said: “I am never surprised by anything that happens for an election. “Every member of the party has a right to contest and put in a nomination…If they are competing, there will be a campaigning,” she said. “I will not engage in campaigning, because I will not endorse any one candidate as against another.”

She added that most people had wound down for the Carnival period, but now that the festival is over, “its back to work in a serious manner.” She added that the end of the negotiations between state-owned Petrotrin and the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union—in the face of a strike threat by the union that was due to begin on Carnival Saturday—was a blessing for the nation. “We are now well poised for better days,” she said.

On the issue of declining mas in San Fernando, the Prime Minister said she would ask Minister of Arts and Multi-Culturalism Minister Winston Peters to investigate. Saying that Port-of-Spain had a bumper Carnival this year, Persad-Bissessar said more 60,000 tourists came to T&T for the season. “Over the three-month period before Carnival, more than 220,000 came in, but for the specific Carnival maybe about 60,000 and that will bring us foreign exchange,” she said. “Things seem to be going smoothly…I am looking forward to see the Road March winner.”

Asked what was her favourite for Road March, the Prime Minister remained tight-lipped saying: “The best song, the best one that the people love. It will be one that the people love.” She said there were no reports of serious crimes over the Carnival period and the only complaint was the declining South mas. Only four bands were registered in Penal and up to 4 pm, none of them had crossed the judging point. She explained that traditionally, mas lovers played in other areas and would return to Penal for “a last jump-up.”

She added that the highlights of her Carnival were Machel Monday, Kiddies Carnival in her constituency and her brief Monday mas with All Stars Steel Orchestra. Insisting she was always a pan lover, Persad-Bissessar said she grew up with the sound of steel as the Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra was located behind her childhood home at Siparia.