Why not Israel Khan as leader of UNC?

By Dr Vishnu Bisram 20 Jan, 2023 4 mins read 9,402 views

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Dear Editor,

Israel Khan is the opposition UNC’s sacrificial lamb in today’s (January 20) contest for President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Supporters of UNC and Independent minded floating voters in T&T ask: Why sacrifice this respected Senior Counsel in an electoral race in which he has no chance to win. Defeated, he will! The question is the margin of defeat among the 72 members electoral college.

Will Khan get any Independent Senators vote to narrow the margin of defeat? In my count, he could get a minimum of four Independent voters. Will any PNM MPs or Senators defect? Won’t happen! Will there be any spoilt votes? Likely from Independent Senators.

Supporters of UNC and floating voters feel that instead of sacrificing Israel Khan in the Presidential contest, the UNC should make him their leader? They say that he or someone else of his integrity and reputation like a Ramesh Maharaj will sweep the elections in a landslide victory. They also say that if the UNC continues to maintain internal status quo, it will be defeated in the next general elections in 2025 and remain in the opposition probably well beyond 2030.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram (Pollster)

Dr Vishnu Bisram

Dr. Vishnu Bisram is Guyanese born who received his primary and secondary education in Guyana and tertiary education in the US and India. He is a holder of multiple degrees in the natural sciences, social sciences, and education. He taught for over forty years in the US. He is a specialist on the Indian diaspora traveling globally to research and write about Indian communities.