In December 2015 I had a hard time supporting Team Kamla in their bid to retain leadership of the UNC because as a supporter of the party I felt that its identity was deliberately being replaced, and its ideals and principles would soon follow.
Every time I saw a poster with Kamla's face replacing the Rising Sun; or the PRO wearing a T-shirt without a party symbol, asking us to "Bring Kamla back as prime minister," as opposed to bringing back the UNC as the government; it became apparent that whatever their vision was, the party was merely a vehicle taking them towards their goal, rather than an institution that represented its supporters.
Despite everything that she has accomplished and crafted, I have always felt that Kamla Persad Bissessar believes that she is threatened by the image of the UNC, despite being its political leader, and has slowly and steadily been co-opting it since assuming the position.
But in July 2016, with the UNC now in search of a new headquarters, I do believe that this may be a blessing in disguise as it presents an opportunity for the party to rebuild that identity and rebrand itself in a way that may be more accessible and relatable to its new support base that has expanded and become more encompassing since the 1980s.
While Rienzi Complex will remain etched in the history of the UNC, the symbolism of the location has become dated and no longer represents the new image and direction of the party. As such, relocating the party's headquarters cannot only reinvigorate the support base, based on their choice for the new location, but also attract new support if it is designed to appeal to them.
The genesis of the UNC as a political party was not in 1988 after Basdeo Panday and the original members were disbanded from the NAR government, but rather it was only the latest iteration of a movement whose lineage dated back to long before our independence. The support for this movement therefore does not reside in a single building or person but rather in the belief that united we can overcome the hardships that have plagued us and rise up to lead the nation to greatness.
The UNC wasn't born in the Rienzi Complex neither will we die in the Rienzi Complex, and under the right leadership and guidance we can move forward with our heads held high, knowing that even we have been faced with the darkest of nights, the sun will always rise again.
Ravi Maharaj