As the race for leadership of the United National Congress heats up, contender Devant Maharaj is challenging his opponents to a debate.

Maharaj, who served as a government minister under Kamla Persad-Bissessar from 2010 to 2015, made the call on Tuesday night. 

As it stands, the three UNC members hoping to be elected political leader when the party holds its internal elections on December 6th are incumbent Kamla Persad Bissessar, Vasant Bharath and Maharaj.

“The importance of the Political Leader of the UNC as one of the two major political parties in Trinidad and Tobago cannot be understated and consequently, this electoral contest is equally of significance,” Maharaj said.

He made the invitation for the parties to come together  “anywhere, anytime” to debate on the issues affecting the United National Congress and relevant National Issues.

“The debate would be transformative in terms of local party politics and would only serve to deepen the democracy not only in the UNC but also for Trinidad and Tobago. In mature democracies which we hold as benchmarks and gold-standards leadership public debates are commonplace so why not Trinidad and Tobago,” he said, referencing the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on how campaigning can be facilitated.

Maharaj also proposed that the debate be moderated by the Debates Commission or the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Failure by Vasant Bharath or Kamla Persad-Bissessar to participate in the public debate not only speals to their cowardice to accept the challenge but also their contempt for the UNC Membeship,” he said.