While neither a member nor supporter of the United National Congress, the person elected to lead the party and subsequently appointed to the position of leader of the Opposition, is of interest to me as it should be to every other Trinbagonian, since the office holder contributes significantly to the success or failure of policy and legislation which ultimately affects us all.
Dr Roodal Moonilal has already issued an ultimatum that his party will not support any proposals by the PNM Government if certain issues are not addressed to their satisfaction, this despite the possible benefit to citizens of these future proposals.
Can the UNC membership comfortably support a seasoned politician who very recently found it acceptable to shout the words 'hush yuh stink mouth' across the floor in the esteemed House, or elect as their leader a man who endorsed and supported the repugnant attack by the former MP for Tobago East in an effort to tarnish and diminish the standing of the now PM, further wounding victims of rape and all right-thinking citizens in the process? Is it acceptable that an individual who aspires to lead the UNC has been proven to be less than honest with the citizenry when he vehemently denied the accusation by Jack Warner that he funded the vocational leg of his wife's education in the UK, allowing her to qualify as a lawyer, and when subsequent cheques were later made public never attempted to explain or apologise for his lack of forthrightness regarding same?
Will the UNC membership re-elect their present leader who repeatedly chose to answer legitimate questions not limited to the mismanagement of billions of dollars, this while the price of oil continued to plummet with the standard "I am not aware"? Is the membership accepting of the contempt with which they were treated surrounding the last-minute selection of virtually unknown, hand-picked candidates with little to no record of service to party or country, which played a huge part in their convincing defeat at the polls? Have they forgiven her for denying them five minutes of her time at party headquarters on the night of the party's defeat?
The country needs a strong Opposition leader who can put the interest of country before self, one who has demonstrated in the past a willingness to stand and be counted, an individual who has demonstrated strength of character and conviction, unafraid to stand and speak out against corruption and wrongdoing, wherever it may exist. The UNC can never win another general election confined to heartland support, the party must reinvent itself, and implement meaningful framework for change so people can begin to trust and view it as a viable option and not simply more of the same.
Luana Lezama
Arima