Khan, Bharath ready to return to electoral politics with the UNC
Akash Samaroo
Senior Reporter
akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt
Several political stalwarts who served during the People’s Partnership administration are coming forward, saying they are willing to serve the UNC once more.
It comes a day after former UNC deputy political leader Jack Warner said he was ready to contest a seat for the party again in the upcoming general elections if party leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar gives him the nod. He has set his sights on his old stomping ground of Chaguanas West.
Yesterday, former Barataria/San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan said he too was ready.
“If she (Kamla Persad-Bissessar) calls I will be very happy to serve,” Khan told Guardian Media.
Khan held the Barataria/San Juan seat from 1995 and 2007 and again from 2010 to 2015. He also served as a Minister of Health.
He said he would bring great value in helping the UNC maintain the marginal Barataria/San Juan seat.
However, asked if he would consider offering himself to be the MP for the constituency once more, Khan said, “I don’t want to answer that because there’s a sitting MP right now. It all depends on what the sitting MP wants to do. If he’s not interested then I have no problem representing the people of Barataria/San Juan.”
Khan said he can also be an asset in the Cabinet.
“I had the Ministry of Health going in a good direction and I had a lot of plans for it so it would be nice to continue the plans to make things better for the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” he explained.
Khan added that the UNC may be missing some seasoned politicians.
Meanwhile, former Food Production minister Vasant Bharath said he has already let Persad-Bissessar know he is willing to serve.
“I have already laid my cards on the table and made it very clear that the PNM government has to be removed. I have offered myself to the UNC and Mrs Persad-Bissessar to assist the party to get it back into office. So absolutely I intend to put myself forward for a position in the party,” he said.
In July, Bharath returned to the UNC and spoke at its pre-budget consultation in Tunapuna. He then described the UNC leader as “magnanimous.”
Bharath said he believes he can win a seat along the East/West corridor, having lived there his entire life. Bharath once held the St Augustine seat for the UNC in 2007.
However, the choice to return to electoral politics is not so straightforward for former Legal Affairs minister Prakash Ramadhar.
“It will be an extremely difficult decision to make and I will make that decision if the situation arises,” Ramadhar explained.
The former Congress of the People leader added he would not completely rule out a return.
“But it is not something I would dismiss as a ‘no go’ because this country needs a lot of help and I am so happy that there are so many people who are willing to contribute to make this country what it ought to be,” he said.
He agreed with Khan that experience would be crucial to the UNC at this time.
“Experience is critically important especially when you are dealing with uncharted and dangerous waters and therefore, I adore the young, bright potential leaders in the politics but there must be a mix of experience, wisdom and knowledge,” he said.
Ramadhar served as St Augustine MP on two occasions.
But another former COP leader said no party has piqued her interest enough to return to electoral politics.
Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, who was once San Fernando West MP, said, “I am not seeing anybody making meaningful change to T&T. It can’t be the same old, same old. We have to move forward and that requires a whole new vision and paradigm shift, and I am not sure we are prepared politically to commit to that. This is why I left the politics. I was advocating for change and I don’t know if we are ready for that change at all.”
And former Tabaquite MP Dr Surujrattan Rambachan said he continues to serve the UNC in a mentorship role and has no interest in returning to electoral politics.
Meanwhile, the UNC will begin screening general election candidates soon. Party chairman Dave Tancoo said yesterday a meeting amongst the National Executive will be held next week and a date for that process will be fixed.
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