Former political leader of the Congress of the People (COP), Winston Dookeran, has agreed to contest the chairmanship of the party in October, but only if Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan wins today’s political leadership election. The promise and unconditional support from Dookeran has added more weight to Seepersad-Bachan’s campaign for leader of the COP. Dookeran said local politics “needed to be repaired” and he believed Seepersad-Bachan had the fortitude to do it.
He said his support for Seepersad-Bachan came after members from several quarters of the COP told him that the party was falling apart under its current leadership. “When all the members of the Congress of the People from Sangre Grande, San Fernando, from St Augustine and Tunapuna came to me and said the party is about to disappear and therefore you cannot sit back and allow it to disappear...,” he said.
“When all the members of the Congress of the People from Sangre Grande, San Fernando, from St Augustine and Tunapuna came to me and said the party is about to disappear and therefore you cannot sit back and allow it to disappear...,” he said. “There is a deep feeling among the members that the one to see it re-emerged and resurrected is Carolyn.”
The votes are expected to be cast today in a three-man race between incumbent Prakash Ramadhar and contenders Seepersad-Bachan and Minister of Culture Lincoln Douglas. The fourth candidate, Rufus Foster, pulled out of the race at the last minute and pledged his support for Seepersad-Bachan. Foster attended Friday night’s cottage meeting held for Seepersad-Bachan in Pasea, Tunapuna.
Dookeran, who wrapped up the meeting just after 10.30 pm, praised Seepersad-Bachan’s growing confidence as she fought for leadership. “I think you are seeing emerging a new Carolyn to lead a new Congress of the People,” he said. Dookeran said her success might encourage him to re-enter the COP politics. “When you win the election, you may get me to do the impossible and that is to fight my sixth election come 2015.
That will be history for a person but it would be a saviour for a nation,” he said to rousing applause. Seepersad-Bachan, during her short delivery, said that Ramadhar failed the party’s values and code of ethics in several key matters including his presence on the UNC platform during the Chaguanas West by-election and his more recent treatment of the controversial alleged recording of COP member Anil Roberts handling what is thought to be marijuana.
“We have a code of ethics and code of conduct in public life and here again we have a type of behaviour taking place and the COP is sitting by the side,” she said. Seepersad-Bachan said the party’s executive took a decision and Ramadhar was supposed to take that directive to the Prime Minister, but was surprised when Ramadhar changed his mind on the matter without informing them. She said Ramadhar should not allow his commitment to the partnership to overshadow his commitment to the party.
While she too pledged her support to the coalition government, she called for more COP independence. She said parties could disagree and yet remain united in governance. “We are committed to coalition government and coalition politics,” she said. Also speaking at the event was a fiery Wendell Eversley, a COP member, who called for the UNC to stay out of the COP elections. Eversley said he was aware of UNC operatives who were planning to infiltrate the election to buoy up Ramadhar’s numbers.
“If that happens, I will get to the bottom of it and reveal it,” he said.