The transformation of the UNC into a one-man show, poor and election campaign strategies were some of the main reasons which lead Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh to run for the post of the party’s chairman and to endorse Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal as the UNC’s political leader.
Moonilal is contesting for the political leadership in a bid to dethrone Opposition leader and former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. There have been a number of calls for Persad-Bissessar to step down following a series of election defeats for the party—the last being the September 7 general election.
San Juan/Barataria MP Dr Fuad Khan had said he would support her for the post of chairman. The party would hold its internal election on December 5.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Radisson Hotel in Port-of-Spain yesterday Gopeesingh described Moonilal as the best person who could take the party forward towards the ultimate aim of rebuilding and to become a national force that could regain government.
“As much as these great UNC ideals informed and inspired the last People’s Partnership government’s tenure, the reality is that somewhere along the line in the last five years, our party’s systems and institutions faltered from them and devolved into a one person show, as was evidenced in the last general election campaign, where the will of the membership was consistently under-represented, or at times, not represented at all—with tactics that simply did not represent who we were or what we stand for as a party,” Gopeesingh said.
Asked if he expressed his concern regarding the “one-man show” Gopeesingh said the UNC has an executive, adding that whom the party had given the responsibility to for ensuring the progress of the party should have taken that responsibility serious.”I would have been out of place to even venture to move forward to make my voice heard when there were advisors and there was a political campaign team.
“I tried to assist but it was too late,” Gopeesingh said. Regarding the UNC’s campaign strategy he said his advice was never sought, adding that the party’s internal team had a lot of blame to share as a result.
Gopeesingh said some of his colleagues had raised concerns regarding the UNC’s campaign strategies but was unsure whether these were taken into consideration. He said he believed T&T had reached the end of ethnic polarisation politics as was evident in the last election.
“I believe the last of the two leader...Dr Rowley and Mrs Persad-Bissessar will be...no longer that way. The country is calling for a diversity in the politics,” Gopeesingh said.
When asked why he now decided to publically declare his position, the former education minister said it was necessary to engage in active consultations with members of the UNC and the Caroni East Constituency executive, some past and present Parliamentary colleagues, friends and family members.
“Our defeat at the polls was considerably influenced by the failure of the party’s internal arms and institutions as well as many shortcomings with the election campaign strategies employed and authorised by the current executive and leadership of the party.
“No politician worth his or her salt can nor should ignore such painfully truthful responses when faced with them in such large volumes, as has happened in the past two months, and I for one am not the type of politician to bury my head in the sand and ignore the realities that face us, good, bad or frankly, ugly,” Gopeesingh said.
He added that the UNC also need to do significant work on its brand, image and especially the party’s internal institutions and machinery if it was to remain a strong political force and regain Government in the next five years.
But Gopeesingh said he was grateful to Persad-Bissessar for giving him the opportunity to serve as education minister. “Her record as Prime Minister will remain impressive and I will always have respect for her abilities and achievements.
“However, I believe that as the political party that most espouses the democratic ideal of service to the people, the electorate has given a key indication that it is unwilling to accept the UNC as a Government under the current leadership structure,” Gopeesingh added. Asked if his support would revert Persad-Bisessar should Moonilal lose Gopeesingh said whoever won had his full support.