Former UNC MP Dr Fuad Khan is delighted at the UNC accommodation with Gary Griffith’s NTA and Jack Warner. But former UNC MP Vasant Bharath has dismissed UNC’s accommodation as a “last-minute cap-in-hand coalition of convenience”. They spoke to Guardian Media yesterday.
Khan commented following a query whether he was to have been among guests on the UNC/NTA/Warner accommodation platform at the Centre of Excellence last night. This was being speculated by some UNC members, excited about the party’s accommodation.
The move has regrouped some past PP government front-liners who were out of the PP/UNC–Warner, since 2013 when he resigned from that government following FIFA issues; Griffith, since 2015 when he was fired as national security minister.
Warner later formed his Independent Liberal Party which unsuccessfully fought UNC/PP in subsequent elections. Griffith became police commissioner in 2018 with the PNM Government’s support though the UNC abstained from voting for him. After issues with the Government, Griffith was not reappointed commissioner. He formed the NTA last year.
After he demitted office as commissioner, there were UNC signals of support for him—including leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s view that he should have reapplied for the post. Last week she called him “the greatest CoP”.
Yesterday, UNC’s Khan, who unsuccessfully challenged Persad-Bissessar for UNC’s leadership, said he had not been approached to appear on last night’s platform.
But Khan added, “The time is correct to start the process to put things in place for the 2025 general election. People in this country are hurting and observing their loss of disposable income and descent into poverty.
“This occurred as a result of the way COVID-19 was handled with unnecessary lockdowns and stupid regulations. This poverty has resulted in an epidemic of home invasions, caused by policy incompetence.
“If good people stay out of public affairs then the road is free for incompetent people to reign. Hence, I do hope that I can make a difference again using the party to which I belong to make this difference—Uncle Jack and Gary has (sic) shown the way.”
Vasant Bharath
SHASTRI BOODAN
But former UNC Minister Bharath, who had also unsuccessfully challenged Persad-Bissessar for leadership, commented unfavourably on UNC’s accommodations.
Bharath said, “People are fed up with the PNM, who have very few if any ideas as to how to get the country out of the horrible mess that is self-inflicted. Regrettably, after having been at the helm of the UNC for the last 13 years, Mrs Persad-Bissessar has done virtually nothing to build a single, focused, and united party to cement the UNC as a force to offer a genuine option to the failed PNM regime.”
“The UNC is now no longer a national one, having given up on Tobago and now several areas in the East-West corridor. This last-minute cap-in-hand accommodation/coalition of convenience is a slap in the face for citizens whose only concerns are for a better quality of life through better governance and better quality of leaders.”
Bharath added, “Additionally the UNC’s leader has a poor record in holding together coalitions, as evidenced by the willful destruction of the COP, NJAC, TOP, and MSJ and an even worse record in convincing the population since 2013 that she can ever replace the PNM. Of course, the diehards on either side will swallow whatever is dished out but the majority of citizens see both sides for what they are, political opportunists just playing games with their lives. For many, we have become a choiceless society.”
Last night, UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar urged others to return home–but with a warning.
“We’ll work with other parties and welcome back people who stayed out or are gone, but loyal members who withstood tremendous assaults–this party is yours!” she added.
She said she had sorted out her differences with Warner and Griffith. “We’re not toting, just voting.”