MAYARO MP Rushton Paray says he is confident he will stand for re-election in next year's general election and that UNC internal elections will take place in June as constitutionally due.
Paray spoke after submitting his general-election nomination package at the UNC's headquarters in Chaguanas on April 11.
At a news conference in Couva on March 22, Paray called for the party to hold its elections. He said he was not afraid of becoming an outcast within the UNC for taking that stand.
The party is constitutionally due to hold elections for all posts on its national executive (Natex) in June, with the exception of political leader. The election for that post is due next year.
Paray expressed concern that the UNC could lose the next election to the PNM if it did not hold internal elections when they were due.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and several other UNC MPs and senators criticised him.
Persad-Bissessar even threatened him with expulsion from the UNC and accused him of being a "PNM infiltrator."
On March 28, Paray said he was not afraid of being expelled from the UNC. Under the UNC's constitution, the political leader does not have sole authority to expel any party member.
He also said his decision not to publicly continue speaking about the need for internal elections was not a capitulation to Persad-Bissessar, and he would continue to advocate for those elections to take place.
[caption id="attachment_1076520" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Rudranath Indarsingh and Dr Rashad Seecharan show their receipts after filing their nomination papers. - Photo by Roger Jacob[/caption]
UNC MPs Dr Rai Ragbir, Anita Haynes-Alleyne and Rodney Charles supported Paray's call for internal elections to be held when they are due.
The trio also expressed their support for Persad-Bissessar as the UNC's leader.
While the UNC advertised that Persad-Bissessar would submit her nomination package in Chaguanas at 1 pm, she did not do so.
The media was told around that time that Persad-Bissessar's package had already been submitted.
A party official said, "I was advised by the political leader that her package was submitted earlier this morning as required at party headquarters."
There was no indication as to whether Persad-Bissessar submitted it in person or a representative did so on her behalf.
Paray arrived in Chaguanas around 1 pm to submit his package. UNC chairman Davendranath Tancoo welcomed him on his arrival.
Tancoo is amongst the UNC parliamentarians expressing support for Persad-Bissessar's leadership and the view that party internal elections will be held when they are due.
[caption id="attachment_1076521" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Davendranath Tancoo and Michelle Benjamin arrive with their supporters to file their nomination papers on April 11. - Photo by Roger Jacob[/caption]
Speaking afterwards with the media, Paray did not believe his call for internal elections will hurt his chances to stand for re-election in Mayaro for a second time.
"I expect to be treated fa
