By Jada Loutoo Monday, December 14 2009

Former Diego Martin Central MP Ken Valley, who once held the portfolio of Trade and Industry Minister in the People’s National Movement Government, prior to 2007, is predicting a landslide victory for Siparia MP Kamla Persad- Bissessar at the United National Congress’ internal elections in January, next year.

Valley, who was kicked out as a candidate ahead of the 2007 general election, had warned of a dictatorship in the PNM, was mentioned by Persad-Bissessar in the speech she gave on Saturday as she announced her candidacy to contest the post of political leader of the UNC.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Valley said the political landscape, locally, was becoming “very interesting.”

“The momentum is building in Kamla’s favour and I won’t be surprised if she wins by landslide,” he said.

Also yesterday, Newsday learnt that UNC political leader Basdeo Panday and his campaign team held an emergency session at the party’s headquarters at Rienzi Complex, Couva, following Persad-Bissessar’s announcement that she will go up against the man she called her guru and mentor.

Panday is expected to train his guns on Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, who is contesting the chairmanship of the UNC, while leaving Persad- Bissessar and Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence- Maharaj — who is also contesting the post of political leader — to fight each other on the hustings.

Meanwhile, Warner has written to the UNC’s general secretary Fazal Karim, requesting that international observers “supervise, monitor and audit,” the party’s elections.

He said he has approached three independent organisations, which, he said, have indicated their interest.

Only recently, the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute turned down a similar request by Warner for them to be observers.