Kamla, Sharma back Ramesh return to UNC

Both Siparia Member of Parliament Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Fyzabad counterpart Chandresh Sharma endorsed Maharaj’s return to the UNC fold, which in the first instance will be as a Senator.

Newsday reported exclusively on Monday that Panday had kissed and made up with Maharaj, who was once viewed as Panday’s heir apparent. Maharaj was also a former attorney general during the UNC administration. Maharaj has indicated his willingness to return to the party, but not right now since he had several pressing matters to deal with.

Persad-Bissessar the party’s newly-elected deputy political leader, said unification of both former and present members of the party was an important factor in getting the party ready to mount a serious campaign against the ruling PNM.

"The common enemy of the UNC and the country as a whole, is the PNM. If the Opposition leader sees this (Ramesh’s return) as an important move for the continued reconciliation of the party, then I would support this move," Persad-Bissessar said.

She added that Maharaj's return to the Senate is indicative of Panday’s stated intention of expanding the party. "I have no problem with that," Persad-Bissessar said. She told Newsday the appointment of senators was done solely on the authority of the Opposition Leader.

In full agreement with his colleague, was Fyzabad MP and recently elected party treasurer, Chandresh Sharma. Sharma, in endorsing Maharaj’s return to the party, stated that under Maharaj’s tenure as attorney general, crime had decreased.

"Mr Maharaj is a master legislator who was able to successfully control criminal activities in this country. That is the most pressing concern on every citizen's mind. It is in that context that I would support his return to the party," Sharma said.

Sharma also justified his support for Maharaj’s return by comparing him to the present AG, John Jeremie.

Sharma described Maharaj as "a vast ocean," noting that many "anti-crime laws had been passed by Maharaj. He then wondered about the number of new legislation passed by the incumbent AG.

When contacted, Nariva Member of Parliament Harry Partap declined comment on the issue, saying he was unaware of moves to woo Maharaj back into the fold of the Opposition party.