Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has created political history once again, winning her fourth consecutive internal leadership election since 2010, and doing so unopposed. The nomination-only victory comes just 90 days after she led the United National Congress (UNC) to a landslide win in the April 28 general election, returning the party to government with a commanding majority.
With no challengers stepping forward, Persad-Bissessar was officially declared re-elected on Nomination Day, effectively ending the party’s internal electoral process before ballots were even printed for the August 17 poll.
Scores of UNC supporters gathered at the party’s Mulchan Seuchan Road, Chaguanas, headquarters on Saturday to witness the moment. Cheers erupted as veteran attorney and chair of the Election Management Committee (EMC), Ramesh Persad-Maharaj, made the formal declaration shortly after the 4 p.m. nomination deadline.
“We confirm that as of 4 p.m. today, there is no other candidate for the post of political leader of the United National Congress,” Persad-Maharaj announced, as supporters applauded.
Quoting the party’s revised election rules, he added: “In the event that only one candidate is valiantly nominated, the committee shall announce that candidate as duly elected unopposed to the office of political leader and formally end this election process.”
Clad in traditional African attire ahead of Emancipation Day, Persad-Bissessar took the podium to thank her supporters and reflect on her 15-year journey at the helm of the UNC. She first contested the party’s leadership in 2010, defeating founding leader Basdeo Panday in what she described as a “revolutionary moment”.
Since then, she has never lost an internal leadership contest—defeating Dr Roodal Moonilal and Vasant Bharath in 2015, and Bharath again in 2020. Despite losing general elections in 2015 and 2020, she retained the support of the party’s base.
(Trinidad Guardian)
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