United National Congress deputy political leader Dr Suruj Rambachan last night described the party’s national executive meeting as “successful.” Rambachan, speaking briefly with reporters after the near two-hour meeting at Rienzi Complex, Couva, said: “All the issues relevant to the party were addressed. I think we have a beautiful way ahead.”
Local government elections, the sudden resignation of Senate vice-president Lyndira Oudit and the UNC’s crushing defeat in the Chaguanas West by-election were among the main issues Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar addressed as she met with the party’s national executive last night. He said the meeting also endorsed the PM’s leadership of the party. As she emerged from the meeting around 8.30 pm, Persad-Bissessar said she had to get to her second meeting as she passed media personnel.
From as early as 4.30 pm, national executive members Dr Roodal Moonilal, Chandresh Sharma, Stacy Roopnarine, Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh and Marlene Coudray began assembling at the UNC’s headquarters ahead of the 6.30 pm meeting. Persad-Bissessar, who arrived around 6.20 pm, abandoned greeting her executive members to chat and shake hands with dance students from the Premala Dance Company.
The dance company usually holds dance classes on Wednesdays in the hall on the upper floor of the UNC headquarters. However, the students had to make way for the UNC parliamentary arm meeting which followed the party’s national executive meeting. The 12 girls were instead allowed to use the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union office to rehearse. Last night, all former UNC councillors, some dressed in their yellow UNC shirts, registered before they were allowed entry to the hall.
Persad-Bissessar, who appeared relaxed, waved to members of the media before she went into the meeting. The mood appeared to be upbeat as national executive members milled around before the meeting. Speaking briefly with the media before the start of the meeting, Rambachan said he was looking forward to the session, which he expected to be “inspiring.”
He said the meeting was about charting the way forward for the party. “I think one of the best ways to do that is what we are doing this evening (last night), bringing together the players, the parliamentary arm and the councillors who have just returned from office temporarily for discussions so we can listen to their views,” he said.