?Today's Senate session could well be the last for the UNC's Senate team since party deputy leaders Suruj Rambachan and Lyndira Oudit top a list of new Senators expected from incoming Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a UNC spokesman said yesterday.
Current UNC Senators–including UNC Senate leader Wade Mark –who were appointed by outgoing Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday are tipped for removal, it was indicated. A source said the reorganisation would see five permanent Senate appointees with one additional Senator being rotated to allow various professionals to be appointed temporarily to speak on areas of legislation in which they specialise. A pool of such appointees–including persons such as UNC vice chairman Dr Fuad Khan, trade unionist Sylvester Ramquar, women's network advocate Hazel Brown –was being compiled. Names of the permanent Senate appointees were being examined yesterday ahead of today's UNC caucus.
Oudit was removed as a Senator by Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday before Carnival to make way for PSA second vice-president Christopher Joefield.
Oudit had said she felt her removal was linked to her support for Persad-Bissessar. Panday said he appointed Joefield to take part in today's Senate debate on the T&T Revenue Authority (TTRA). The Couva North MP had spoken of a senatorial appointment for Rambachan last July when Rambachan was ousted as Chaguanas Mayor. That never materialised. Rambachan said yesterday: "The leader will make any decision. Right now we're concentrating on party reorganising and preparing to win Local Government elections."
Contacted yesterday, UNC Senator Wade Mark said he was in a meeting. Senators Adesh Nannan and MF Rahaman have been stoic in previously reported comments. Senator Sharon Gopaul-McNichol said: "The Opposition Leader appoints and revokes – that's the process under the Constitution. So I'll support whatever is done under the process." Senator Jennifer Kernahan added: "I was appointed by Opposition Leader Panday. If asked to continue, I will. If not, my life will go on. I'll move on to something else."