Time for changes at the top, UNC

THE EDITOR: I Bachan Pariag and other members of the constituency have been loyal and devoted supporters of the UNC political party until the last Local Government Elections when, along with some other members, we took a defiant stand just as our heroes Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Ralph Maraj and Trevor Sudama did. I want to give my total support to the sentiments expressed by St Joseph’s MP Mr Gerald Yetming in today’s copy of the Newsday (24/07/03) with respect to the UNC finding new leadership. I have the utmost respect for Mr Basdeo Panday but I have to agree with the general consensus of the UNC supporters that it is time for change at the top of the UNC’s administration. Mr Panday has given his all to the UNC and we are all grateful but we have to look forward to the future and come up with fresh new ideas to regain the position as government of Tri-nidad and Tobago and save this country from the present administration.

However from my personal experience with Mr Panday I suspect that he is not serious in allowing a new leader to take his position at the helm of the party. The party needs this change but I have to add that change should also be done at the lower levels in the UNC. The UNC has been plagued with allegations of corruption. Even though no concrete proof has been brought forward, the names of many UNC members have been tainted already. With a change of leadership, the public might view the UNC in a different light and the party will once more become a viable competitor to the PNM. The leaders of the UNC and the PNM have been in power for so long that now the public only sees a struggle between these two stalwarts of politics and not between the two political parties. When I think about the leadership of the UNC a few prominent names come to mind and I take this opportunity to recommend these individuals for the post of leader of the UNC:
(1) MP Mr Winston Dookeran
(2) Senator Robin Montano
(3) Mr Carlos John
(4) Mr Surujrattan Rambachan
(5) Mr Anand Ramlogan

These men are influential entities in the UNC party and have shown their leadership qualities in the past. Their qualifications are impeccable and are deserved of this position. Mr Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and the other Panday rejects of the UNC should be considered for this position because of their courage to defy Mr Panday. They did what they honestly thought was righteous and I agree with their actions. Therefore we decided to follow in their footsteps to let them know that they have our total support in Princes Town. They also deserve thorough consideration for the position of Leader of the UNC. It is time that all the Pandays leave the Party (Bas, Oma, Subhas!) The Party’s National Executive should get down to some serious work in the reformation of the UNC party. However, I know that no one has the courage or the “balls” to request that Mr Panday should step down to the benefit of the party’s future in Trinidad and Tobago’s politics.

BACHAN PARIAG
Secretary
Princes Town Constituency Executive