Tag Archives: UNC

Culture, Gender, India, PNM, Politics, Race and Identity, UNC

Well a Woman is Almost There

11 Comments

So wha bout the politics now?

By Corey Gilkes
March 02, 2010
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Kamla Persad-BissessarOn the 24th January an interesting but not unexpected shift in the politics occurred when Kamla Persad-Bissessar was voted in as political leader of the United National Congress dethroning the charismatic veteran leader and founder of the party, Basdeo Panday. This paved the way for her being sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on the 25th February. Kamla’s victory is significant in more ways than one. For well over fifty years there have been women figuring in one way or another in the political world of Trinidad and Tobago. Significant strides have been made by such figures as Audrey Jeffers, Gertrude Kirton, Muriel Donawa-McDavidson and Jean Pierre, to name but a few and while in the past there have been women appointed by the Prime Minister to function in his capacity in his absence, never before have we seen a woman elected to lead a political party with the likelihood that she may also be elected as the country’s next Prime Minister.
Continue reading Well a Woman is Almost There →

General T&T, Parliament, Politics, UNC

Ghosts in Panday’s political afterlife

2 Comments

Former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday
Former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday
By Raffique Shah
February 28, 2010

THE tide of events often disrupts the best laid plans of columnists. I promised readers last week that I would today conclude my take on a ‘dying Carnival’. I wanted to share my thoughts on the few remaining bright sparks in the festival-the effervescent young pannists, calypsonians Kurt Allen, Brian London and Kizzie Ruiz, and dedicated cultural activists who refuse to allow our Carnival to descend into the abyss of nothingness.
Continue reading Ghosts in Panday’s political afterlife →

General T&T, Parliament, Politics, UNC

Kamla’s First Day in Parliament as Opposition Leader

1 Comment

Kamla's First Day in Parliament as Opposition Leader - Panday prefers back bench
Kamla's First Day in Parliament as Opposition Leader
PNM salutes Bas in House
Former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday defied the order of UNC chief whip Jack Warner and stuck to his word to occupy a backbench seat in the Parliament yesterday.

Bas disappoints Kamla
FORMER Opposition Leader, Couva North MP Basdeo Panday, sat on the Opposition back- bench yesterday, ignoring a call by his successor Kamla Persad-Bissessar to stay on the front bench next to her.
Continue reading Kamla’s First Day in Parliament as Opposition Leader →

General T&T, Parliament, Politics, UNC

Kamla is the New Opposition Leader

4 Comments

President George Maxwell Richards Appoints Kamla Persad-Bissessar the Leader of the Opposition
President George Maxwell Richards Appoints Kamla Persad-Bissessar the Leader of the Opposition
One step to govt
She gave an address to supporters and reporters moments after being given her instrument of appointment at President’s House, St Ann’s by President George Maxwell Richards who called it “a most historic occasion”.

Long journey to the top
Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday replaced her ‘political guru’, Basdeo Panday, as Opposition Leader-a position she now adds to an impressive resume.
Continue reading Kamla is the New Opposition Leader →

General T&T, Politics, UNC

Tim makes eight…Panday disappointed

4 Comments

Kamla says she has majority support for Opposition Leader post

By Juhel Browne
February 21, 2010 – trinidadexpress.com

Kamla Persad-BissessarSiparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday declared she has secured the support of the majority of the 15 Opposition MPs she requires to replace Couva North MP Basdeo Panday as opposition leader.

Persad-Bissessar, who was elected as the United National Congress’ (UNC) political leader in the party’s January 24 internal elections, made her declaration shortly after Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh announced his support for her as opposition leader yesterday morning.
Continue reading Tim makes eight…Panday disappointed →

General T&T, Politics, UNC

Bas Spits Fire, fires Oudit

Chief Whip Jack Warner and Basdeo Panday
Chief Whip Jack Warner and Basdeo Panday
Panday fires Oudit
Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday “fired” UNC’s new deputy leader Lyndira Oudit from her senatorial post and replaced her in the Upper House with Public Services Association (PSA) second vice-president Christopher Joefield.

Bas Spits Fire
Axes UNC Senator Lyndira Oudit; warns Opposition staff about Kamla

Opposition Leader fires Senator Oudit
Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday made mas yesterday, firing Lyndira Oudit from the Senate forthwith and immediately appointing PSA Second Vice President, Christopher Joefield.
Continue reading Bas Spits Fire, fires Oudit →

General T&T, Parliament, Politics, UNC

Karma, Bas, not Kamla

8 Comments

By Raffique Shah
February 07, 2010
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Basdeo PandayMost readers would interpret my headline as suggesting that UNC “founding father”, Basdeo Panday, is enjoying sweet chutney/soca music in keeping with the spirit of the Carnival season. For them, “Karma” is a music band whose lead singer, Ravi B, won the recent Chutney-Soca Monarch title. Ironically, Ravi’s winning song was titled “Ah Drinker”. Ravi was not referring to orange juice or WASA’s now-scarce potable water, but to the wanton abuse of alcohol.
Continue reading Karma, Bas, not Kamla →

Health, Politics, UNC

Kamla Falls, Injures Shoulder

1 Comment

By Clint Chan Tack and Sean Douglas
February 06, 2010 – newsday.co.tt

Kamla Persad-BissessarUNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was rushed to the St Clair Medical Centre yesterday after she fell hard in the Parliament Chamber at 4.20 pm during a sitting of the House of Representatives, sustaining injuries to her left shoulder.
Continue reading Kamla Falls, Injures Shoulder →

COP, General T&T, Politics, UNC

Kamla in Charge

6 Comments

Kamla moves to unite opposition forces

Ria Taitt Political Editor
February 02 2010 – trinidadexpress.com

Kamla Persad-BissessarUNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has proposed the establishment of a committee to work out the modalities and framework for the holding of ‘unity’ discussions with stakeholders and political organisations opposed to the ‘maladministration of Patrick Manning’.
Continue reading Kamla in Charge →