The UNC is above race; it strives for what is best for the party, its supporters and the nation. The endorsement of the UNC by John Jeremie and Professor Selwyn Cudjoe and the planting of Jearlean John and Sean Sobers in safe UNC strongholds, do not at all surrender the founding principles of the UNC. In fact, Basdeo Panday would be smiling from wherever he is and complimenting himself that Kamla has learned well from him.
It was unfortunate that some myopic minds could not endorse Panday’s choice of Carlos John for leadership of the party and his courting of Lawrence Duprey, the Managing Director of CLICO in the past and why?
It is fear of losing what I would call ‘most favorable friend status’ that accounts for such behaviour. For fear that with new friends their status with the leader would be lowered, these narrow minded individuals prefer being in opposition. They are like kids who hold on to their mothers’ dresses so that they would have access to her 24/7.
Just as it is within the right of Larry Lalla to endorse the PNM so also, John Jeremie, former Attorney General of the PNM, has the right to endorse Kamla and the UNC.
As a Santanist Hindu I felt the pain when so many other communities endorsed and actively supported the PNM and their leaders were well rewarded with jobs, scholarships and other goodies. Then it was within your fundamental right to do so. Today, it is well within the law for Jeremie and Cudjoe to support the UNC.
Was it morally right for a few Indians to enjoy the plums of office under PNM while the majority are left to endure a life of hardships and calamities?
The UNC supporters then were labelled blind supporters of Basdeo Panday and racists. Now that the UNC has opened their arms to embrace all within the House of the Rising Sun, those said people who have fraternized with the PNM are now sounding the alarm of race.
The UNC Is today a bullet train using the most modern technologies to be ahead in the race. It is running full steam and I can now understand that some of those whom Kamla have hugged are now scared of losing their preferred status.
Does Kamla need to reach out to allay the fears of those insecure people parading as loyal supporters?
“Change is the only constant” is quite a popular adage. And those who are not embracing change would have learned the hard way, as the bullet train runs it course.
I am happy that Kamla has denounced nepotism and promised to put an end to it. Those who believe that the UNC is an Indian party are second rate who seek special rights status.
This culture must be denounced as the UNC party develops a culture of meritocracy to give everyone, irrespective of race or gender, color or religion, an equal chance.