The United National Congress (UNC) executive has named Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the new Opposition Leader, the first for a female in Trinidad and Tobago.
By Richard LordThis as former prime minister Basdeo Panday's appointment as Opposition Leader was revoked by President George Maxwell Richards earlier yesterday.
A letter was delivered by UNC Deputy Political Leader Jack Warner, Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, Nariva MP Harry Partap and Tabaquite MP Dr Adesh Nanan to Richards.
It contained the names of the eight MPs who are in support of Persad-Bissessar, hours after Basdeo Panday was relieved of the post following a jail sentence by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls for making a false declaration to the Integrity Commission.
At an emergency executive meeting held at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Charles St in Port of Spain yesterday afternoon, party vice-chairman Vasant Bharath said that Winston Dookeran, the party's political leader, did not command the support of the majority of members in the House of Representatives who are opposed to Government.
Meanwhile, Warner told a news conference following the meeting that attempts were made to get the support of three other MPs, Naparima MP Nizam Baksh (who declined saying he had to consult with his spiritual leader), Gillian Lucky (MP for Pointe-a-Pierre) who said she could not support Persad-Bissessar, and Dr Fuad Khan (MP Barataria/San Juan) who said he could not support Persad-Bissessar or Dookeran, the other candidate for the post.
Party officials said that Persad-Bissessar's nomination was not recommended by Panday but by the Members of Parliament themselves.
Speaking on behalf of the MPs, Dr Moonilal said Persad-Bissessar was chosen because of her "enormous experience in political and public life". He recalled that she was a former acting prime minister, a former attorney general and minister of education.
He said she had a "very outstanding CV in public affairs and political life".
He said she has also provided leadership before for the party and the then UNC government "and is well qualified to become Leader of the Opposition".
Persad-Bissessar is expected to become the first female Opposition Leader in this country, he added.
