Kamla upbeat at UNC executive meeting
At her first meeting of the UNC national executive since the party’s defeat at the July 29 Chaguanas West bye-election, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar appeared upbeat as she greeted fellow national executive members at Rienzi complex, Couva, yesterday.
Persad-Bissesar, was outfitted in the party’s colours. As she exited her official vehicle, the Prime Minister greeted other party members who formed a line in the driveway. She gave each member a firm handshake, and a welcoming smile.
A number of young ladies belonging to the Premala dance group, and who, upon hearing the Prime Minister was expected, hurried to the front of the building to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister. They were not disappointed as she went across to them and shook their hands.
The national executive meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 6 pm, witnessed members arriving at the venue from as early as 4 pm. Among the early arrivals were party organiser Chandresh Sharma, followed at approximately 5.20 pm by Daphne Phillips, and Marlene Coudray who were both similarly outfitted in yellow blouses.
Coudray waved to reporters as she entered the building. Other arrivals included deputy political leader, Dr Suruj Rambachan; chairman Khadijah Ameen and Dr Roodal Moonilal followed soon after.
Ameen smiled and greeted reporters while Rambachan who drove his own vehicle walked up to the assembled media corps, and shook their hands.
Asked to comment on the meeting, he said, “I am looking forward to a very inspired evening in terms of the discussiosn, and charting the way forward, and I think one of the best ways to do that is what we are doing this evening, and that is bringing the parliamentary arm, the councillors who have just retired from the ofice temporarily for discussion so we can listen to their views and have them articulate their positions and what they consider to be the way forward.”
Asked to comment on former government senators Lyndira Oudit’s statements about the party he said, she had every opportunity to raise her concern at the the relevant party institutions, but “never did.”
“She hardly attended the major functions as one would have expected, and she has now chosen a side, so let us wish her the best,” Rambachan said.
He also commented on rumours that Ameen may be appointed a Government senator saying, “the Prime Minister gives, and the Prime Minister takes, that’s the Prime Minister’s prerogative.”
He also stated, no URP projects had been stopped, in the Chaguanas West constituency following the bye-election as was being claimed saying, “in addition none of the projects which was started in the Beujcal, Warren, Munroe Road, none of these projects has been stopped.”
Following the meeting, a meeting of all former councillors was expected to be held on the upstairs floor of Rienzi Complex.
Also attending the meeting were other UNC MPs and parliamentarians, including Dr Fuad Khan, Rudy Indarsingh and Stephen Cadiz as well as SRC chairman, Leo Doodnath.