Though she usually enters Parliament after sessions begin, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar arrived early last Friday and for Monday’s session on legislation concerning HCU depositors, she was at Finance Minister Larry Howai’s elbow, aiding clarifications.
Persad-Bissessar and her leadership counterpart in other parties holding internal polls, are increasingly the point of scrutiny as the general election scenario unfolds, leadership strength being key to the stake. At least three women, cued by Persad-Bissessar’s 2010 leap on the landscape, have made their play in an historical figure. Though unsuccessful PNM’s Pennelope Beckles-Robinson’s PNM leadership bid, revealed sides of the PNM and leader Keith Rowley that otherwise wouldn’t fully have been, under PP probe.
ILP leader Lyndira Oudit’s ability to attract ILP partners and rebuild ILP’s initial status as a factor in politics—and fend off perception as a figurehead—remains to be seen. The fight in COP’s June 29 leadership election is expected, out of the four contenders to be between incumbent leader Prakash Ramadhar and Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan. It will prove in June 29 party polls, whether members want her as Persad-Bissessar’s “successor” on the landscape, if they want to continue in PP or open the door otherwise.