Maraj silent on Sudama

PNM prodigal son Ralph Maraj yesterday declined to respond to his former Cabinet colleague, Trevor Sudama’s description of him (Maraj) as a “supreme, brazen opportunist.”  On Monday, Sudama told Newsday that Maraj’s return to the ruling People’s National Movement came as no surprise to him given Maraj’s job as a consultant in the Ministry of Public Administration. Yesterday, Maraj said he was aware of Sudama’s remarks but he preferred not to comment on the matter. On Monday, Maraj declined to comment on reports that he was being considered for a Government post. Maraj re-entered the political limelight on Sunday at the PNM’s 38th annual convention in Chaguaramans and was openly embraced by Prime Minister Patrick Manning. A former Foreign Affairs Minister in the Manning Administration of 1991-1995, Maraj fell out with Manning in 1995 and resigned from the PNM to join the United National Congress.

Maraj, Sudama and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj were dismissed from the UNC Government in 2001 after the trio declared that the UNC was not dealing with allegations of corruption levelled against it and then PM Basdeo Panday was practising “autocratic maximum leadership.” The trio formed National Team Unity (NTU) which failed to win a single seat in the 2001 general elections. Maharaj recently said NTU would become part of a “new political vehicle” which will eventually render the PNM and UNC politically obsolete. The former Attorney-General said he expects this “vehicle” to be formed next year.