UNC leader overjoyed at 0-0 draw

LEADER of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday confessed that she was so moved by the stellar performance of the Soca Warriors in holding Euro football giants Sweden to a goalless draw at the World Cup Finals that she was left in tears.

Persad-Bissessar shared her feelings of joy and pride at the Warriors’ performance in their opening group match last Saturday as she spoke at a UNC meeting at Mahelal Road in Aranjuez on Monday.

“In Aranjuez, I feel I am in Felicity... a place which means ‘a state of great happiness,’ given to us by the Soca Warriors’ performance on Saturday against Sweden,” Persad-Bissessar said. She led the gathering in chanting three cheers for the Warriors.

“The Soca Warriors have shown they are greater than great and that we have an equal place on the world stage. Although we drew with the Swedes, at the end of the match, I cried... as I am sure many of you did.”

She said the Warriors had rekindled a spirit of unity in Trinidad and Tobago.

Saying she didn’t want to bring politics into football, she nevertheless said people needed to give more credit for the Warriors’ success, to the work done by UNC deputy political leader Jack Warner in his role as FIFA vice-president and special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF). “Give Jack his jacket! Jack represents excellence for us. What happened in Germany represents what is possible for us when we are united as one. We defied the odds,” Persad-Bissessar said.

Saying this country has character and spirit to succeed at many levels, she said Warner had shown what can be achieved by Trinidad and Tobago with the right leadership. She added that performance made the UNC stronger. “Unlike the Soca Warriors who were playing with one man less (Avery John was sent off in the game against Sweden), in the UNC we have one woman more.”

Saying that crime was the UNC’s top priority she boasted that while men would discuss problems, in order to actually get a job done you have to call on a woman. “Put me up against the Minister of National Security or the Prime Minister and we’ll show you why woman is boss,” she said. The UNC leader told the crowd that Warner had linked up with an internationally-renowned group to address TT crime.