Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s comments to reporters Tuesday made it clear she hasn’t yet accepted that she’s no longer politically attractive to the electorate, especially much-needed swing voters, said the UNC’s Devant Maharaj.
Maharaj spoke Tuesday after Persad-Bissessar delivered comments after she was appointed at President’s House. He said Persad-Bissessar has a charm offensive that fools everyone.
“But clearly the public no longer wants to be fooled—they want substance,” he said.
“One of her comments showed she’s at least capitulated—in my view—to public calls to have the UNC’s internal polls this year. But it’s clear from the rest of her comments she intends to offer herself to members again and lead us to another defeat in Local Government and general elections ahead.”
“She’s said her work isn’t complete and her phrases like ‘the comeback will be better than the setback’ also shows she intends staying on,” he added.
“She can win Siparia a thousand times with 200,000 voters but we still won’t win government if she remains. For instance, we’re no longer a national party under her as we failed to have a presence in Tobago for election. We’ve become a party of South and Central to ‘Make Kamla Great Again’.”
Maharaj added, “Whatever she said about me, I didn’t screen to be a candidate and for five years. I outperformed some of her UNC MPs to hold the PNM accountable. My interest remains in ensuring UNC has what it takes to win Government—but Kamla’s not that.”
The UNC’s Fuad Khan also noted Persad-Bissessar had indicated he’d criticised her as he didn’t get a seat.
“But not everyone is Kamla and wants to hold on. I chose to leave. She’s chosen to stay.”