The United National Congress’s (UNC) national executive will be sworn in later this evening, after which a decision will likely be taken on whether to expel Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir from the party.
The new national executive includes Deputy Political Leaders Dr Roodal Moonilal (Oropouche East MP); Jearlean John (Senator) and David Lee (Point-a-Pierre MP); as well as chairman Davendranath Tancoo (Oropouche West MP); deputy chairman Hamlyn Jailal; policy and strategy officer Saddam Hosein (Barataria MP); party organiser Barry Padarath (Princes Town MP) and others.
Guardian Media reached out to political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar as well as several elected members of the national executive yesterday to learn what disciplinary action has been taken against Ragbir.
However, while others remained mum, Lee stated “The new Natex has to be sworn in first before we move forward!”
The swearing-in will take place at the UNC Cottage Meeting at the party’s headquarters at Mulchan Seuchan Road, Chaguanas.
Lee also disclosed that the three DPLs will deliver speeches on separate topics. The feature address will be given by the party's leader.
Ragbir has earned the ire of his colleagues after voting against the party line in the House of Representatives on Friday. He was the sole member of the opposition to vote in favour of the passage of amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Bill. The UNC's position was that the amendments infringed on people’s rights and would result in lawsuits but Ragbir said he believed it was “good laws” which is why he voted his conscience.
In an exclusive interview with Guardian Media in March, Persad-Bissessar threatened to follow the party’s constitution and expel any member who breaks rank and exhibits divisions in Parliament.
Under the UNC’s Constitution, Article 21 which deals with discipline states: (D) Any member of the Party serving in Parliament or on any municipal corporation or other public forum who votes contrary to the declared policies or principles or programmes of the Party or to any directive of the Party on any matter, or who willfully omits to vote or to act in accordance with any directive or policies, principles or programmes of the Party or does or wilfully omits to do any act in connection therewith, which in the opinion of the National Executive conflicts with or is contrary to the declared policies, or principles or programmes of the Party is liable to immediate suspension pending the determination thereof by the Disciplinary Committee.
If the said matter results in expulsion, he shall not subsequently be or be entitled to be a member of the Party, except after the expiration of five years from the date of any such act or omission or otherwise as the case may be and then only upon the recommendation of the National Congress and on such terms and conditions as the National Congress may prescribe.
Ragbir is one of five MPs who have been labelled dissidents within the UNC. The others include Mayaro MP Rushton Paray, Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes-Alleyne, Naparima MP Rodney Charles, and Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally.
All of the so-called dissidents took part in the national executive elections on June 15 under the Paray-led United Patriots. Charles and Rambally did not.
UNC crumbling from within – Hinds
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said the opposition is falling apart without the People’s National Movement (PNM) lifting a finger.
Taking some time away from the PNM's Sport and Family Day to speak with Guardian Media in a telephone interview yesterday, the minister said the crumbling of the UNC has become more evident when Ragbir voted alongside the government in the Lower House.
“A battle was won without lifting a finger but having faith in almighty God and this organisation, the People’s National Movement, 69 years in existence as it has been, standing firm on certain principles and on the high principle of principle. We have taken on all comers and we have seen them all crumble before our very eyes. So, we saw an element of that on Friday and we thank God for it,” he said.
“The applause that you saw is ‘we told you so!’ You can’t stay the course because you are not rooted in truth, you are not grounded in principle as the PNM is and therein lies the big difference,” he added.