Ramesh: PNM poses greater threat to UNC

IN the wake of Monday’s Local Government Elections, the People’s National Movement (PNM) poses an even greater to the United National Congress’ (UNC) future as a viable political force in Trinidad and Tobago. This was the post-election analysis yesterday from former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj who believed the time has come for “a new force” in TT’s politics. Maharaj told Newsday that the election results show that the electorate was “turned off” to both the PNM and UNC because neither party was able to capture their imagination. However the former AG predicted that the PNM now “poses a greater challenge” to the UNC and the Opposition could lose further ground if it does not arrest its continuing slide from 2001. Maharaj declared that for people to believe in honest government once again, there is an urgent need “for principles and integrity in politics” but neither virtue could be found in either the PNM or the UNC.

The former AG also stated that any political alliance between the UNC and other parties will not work. Maharaj said a “strong, credible alternative” to the Government would only arise from a “new movement” built upwards from the society’s base. He explained that this was the objective he has been working towards since his dismissal as AG from the Basdeo Panday Cabinet. Maharaj shared former minister Trevor Sudama’s views that Panday’s departure as UNC leader was long overdue. He said political parties “must not be built around individuals” but around ideology and principles. “There is no difference in ideology between the PNM and the UNC. There is no real change. All you have instead is exchange,” he lamented. The former AG dismissed suggestions of him returning to the UNC should Panday resign, saying his emphasis was working towards “a social transformation” in TT which ensures equity for all citizens. He also advised the Manning Administration that it “should not feel proud” about the overwhelming victory it scored over the UNC. “The people want a new movement. They have voted for a change in movement,” Maharaj declared.