But Welch was put to the sword by the management of Power 102, who
advised him that if he wanted to take up the senatorial appointment,
he would not be allowed to return to the station.
Welch, who was seeking permission from the management, was told
that the station took a stance that as a talk-show host, the Gladiator’s
appeal was to a wide listening public and his political position
could be seen as a conflict of interest and one with an open UNC
bias.
“His views and comments would appear to be politically slanted,
because of his position as an Opposition senator,” an official
of the station said.
The Gladiator argued that Persad-Bissessar told him he would serve
as an Independent UNC senator and he did not have to toe the party
line.
Since the post was a temporary one for about three weeks, the Gladiator
had no choice but to turn down the offer because he would not have
been able to go back to his morning job at the station.
Persad-Bissessar herself has come under fire from supporters of
the UNC over her choice of Welch, a die-hard People’s National
Movement (PNM) activist.
A number of UNC officials and activists claim that the suggestion
to appoint the Gladiator probably came from UNC deputy Political
Leader Jack Warner, who is close to Welch and the Opposition Leader
had no choice in the matter.
The UNC is reportedly proposing to nominate Welch, as a candidate
for one of the Laventille seats in the upcoming general election.
When Mirror asked fearless and outspoken senator Dana Seetahal about
the move by the UNC to appoint Gladiator as a senator she quipped:
“That’s amazing!”
Pressed further on the move by her colleagues to walk out if Welch
had taken his seat in the senate, the popular attorney declined
comment.
“I cannot say what I would have done, I would have had some
serious thinking to do.
“I would have had to make a decision right there and then.
“But Welch’s appointment has not happened,” she
said.
Senior Counsel Seetahal described Gladiator as “loud, aggressive
and vexatious”.
Regarding his attacks on the East Indian community, especially Hindus
on his radio programme, Seetahal said while she said his statements
would not have been conducive to unity in the country.
She questioned how the UNC could have offered him a senatorial post,
saying Welch was against some of the policies of the party.
Seetahal also said she would not have allowed Gladiator’s
presence to impact on the contribution she had to make in the Senate.
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