Leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Jack Warner says he is not fazed by his former leader Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s rejection of his overtures about a possible return to the People’s Partnership Government should he win the Chaguanas July 29 by-election. Warner threw out the suggestion last Friday of his ILP being part of the coalition following the launch of the party at a meeting in Chaguanas but Persad-Bissessar has met this with a decisive “no”.
Asked about the PM’s rejection of his suggestion after he had filed his nomination papers at the Chaguanas Elections and Boundary Commission (EBC) office yesterday, however, Warner said he still did not believe the words were those of the PM. “I don’t think those words are Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s words. Her politics has always been more of inclusion,” Warner said in defence of his former leader. He pondered over whether she had consulted with other members of the PP before making the statement, suggesting the response may have been influenced by the “cabal” in the UNC. While not wanting to dub her a “puppet” of the cabal, Warner said: “She does not own the Partnership.”
The former national security minister and UNC chairman also denied he had approached any sitting parliamentarian to join his ILP. Former justice minister Herbert Volney has said he would resign from the UNC some time this week and join Warner’s party. It was Volney who indicated three other sitting MPs would soon be joining Warner in his battle for the Chaguanas West seat and then a run at local government elections. Several government ministers, asked about Volney’s intention, preferred not to comment, saying that was a matter for the PM to decide.
Some reminded that Manohar Ramsaran, who attempted to offer himself as a UNC candidate while still a member of the COP, was automatically expelled from his
party. They said a similar fate could befall Volney. Warner said 7,000 people had joined his party in the last week and indicated his intention to formalise the structure in September as he intended to contest the local government elections as well.