FORMER UNC MP Vasant Bharath joined his former parliamentary colleagues Dr Fuad Khan and Ramona Ramdial in dismissing Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar's latest olive branch offering as being without substance.
At the UNC's congress in Couva on January 29, Persad-Bissessar said she was extending an olive branch to dissidents in the party and to smaller political parties to unite with the UNC against the PNM.
Before last July's UNC internal elections, Persad-Bissessar had publicly dismissed any thought of an alliance between the UNC and any other political party. After those elections, Persad-Bissessar said she was open to working with other political parties.
Khan and Ramdial had a motion which called for greater unity in the UNC and including former members in efforts to strengthen the party rejected by UNC general secretary Peter Kanhai, on behalf of the UNC's leadership. Kanhai claimed that Persad-Bissessar and the UNC's leadership were already doing the things Khan and Ramdial were calling for.
On Thursday,Bharath said, "These are the usual hollow and vacuous comments meant to indicate to the base that she has tried to unite to beat the PNM."
Bharath did not believe that any other political party wants to join the UNC in its current state, "as their supporters would find that abhorrent and unacceptable.
He said Persad-Bissessar's track record at forging enduring political alliances is abysmal.
"Mrs Bissessar’s track record with such arrangements is not something to be proud of."
Bharath also recalled that when the now defunct UNC-led People's Partnership (PP) coalition lost the September 7, 2015 general election to the PNM, Persad-Bissessar took no responsibility for the PP's premature breakup and there was no analysis done as to why that happened.
"As a result the population is sick and tired of political liaisons of convenience."
On Wednesday, Khan said, "Leopards cant change their spots. Snakes shed skin but are still snakes and that olive branch have plenty picker."
The olive branch to sidelined members is just ole talk because she has said this on previous occasions but there has been no accomodation of us from the leadership"
She recalled that Khan and herself "extended an olive branch (to Persad-Bissessar) since 2020 and there has been no engagement of us so we are really not fooled by this call.
Ramdial claimed the state of affairs in the UNC is one with "MPs,Senators, councillors running scared."
She reiterated her view that Persad-Bissessar and her loyalists do not want real unity in the UNC because they are afraid of losing control of the party.
Ramdial challenged Persad-Bissessar to prove she is sincere about real political unity on this occasion.
"The leadership should meet with all of us to see how best we can fit in to move the party forward."
As a UNC life member, Ramdial said, " I am willing and able to serve in many capacities to rebuild the party."
In a statement, Alexander rejected Persad-Bissessar's call for a political alliance.
He said her ca
