DOOKERAN BLASTS UNC

In a powerfully-worded status report, St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran severely criticised the policies and politics being pursued by the United National Congress. And one of the main points of his broad-brush criticisms was the absence of a structure to adequately deal with the issue of finding a successor to UNC leader Basdeo Panday. In fact, Dookeran noted that “it is perceived that the party ‘belongs’ to its founder, Panday.” While he dealt with several themes, Dookeran mainly advocated serious “political action” to “reverse” the prevailing state of “paralysis” within the UNC which he felt, was fuelling “growing negative perceptions of the UNC” from many “stakeholders; members; interest groups and private citizens.” Stating the impression was that the UNC was functioning as “a protest movement,” rather than as a viable political entity, Dookeran concluded that the party  was in no position to “properly articulate cogent alternatives to the present policies of the Government.” He insisted, “We are yet to fully capitalise on the mistakes they continue to make. Our numbness has thus been made our biggest opponent.” What makes the 12-page document titled “An Agenda for Transformation” even more interesting political meat is that it was done entirely on the author’s own initiative.

Dookeran used the opportunity of a party retreat on September 7 to formally present the document, which was discussed and circulated to all MPs. Panday, who was overseas at the time, now has a copy of the paper. In the report Dookeran poured cold water on the party’s policies of non-cooperation and civil disobedience, which have been heavily espoused by Panday.  Noting that there was mixed support for these policies even among the party’s traditional support base, Dookeran said: “The party has not shown how non-cooperation and civil disobedience will advance the national interest.” The St Augustine MP also insisted that the “ingrained perception” that the UNC had been corrupt while in office, remained a serious handicap. “Mainstream thought suggests that the party will find it difficult to regain any form of political power until it decisively breaks free of that now ingrained perception,” he asserted. Dookeran, who is seen by many to be fairly detached from the politics of the UNC (and the country), is regarded, perhaps because of this detachment, as a credible successor to Panday.

On the leadership question, the former NAR Deputy Leader noted that the UNC lacked a “set of rules, regulations and a firm goverance framework” to tackle the succession issue. “It is perceived that the party ‘belongs’ to its founder, he observed. Recalling that Panday had publicly indicated his intention to give up the leadership “at an appropriate time,” Dookeran recommended that the party “carefully determine and publicly articulate” “the process for finding a new leader.” He advised too that the party consider a change of location of its headquarters —  currently housed in the All Trinidad Sugar Workers Trade Union, at Rienzi Complex, Couva — “to reflect a distinct national identity.” Dookeran noted that the closure of Caroni which resulted in the retrenchment (via VSEP) of 9,000 workers had “decimated” the ATSWTU which was widely considered to be the “epicentre” of the party’s support base. He added that this support base may well be feeling a sense of dismay over the fact that the UNC did not restructure the sugar industry while it was in office and was therefore “now helpless in forestalling the actions of the present government.” Dookeran lamented that there was a significant fall-off in financial backing  for the party, as “many major contributors have thrown their support behind the Government as a result of the power it wields.”

Dookeran stated that the transformed UNC must rethink its approach to parliamentary opposition, establishing and articulating clearly, the rationale upon which it supports or opposes any piece of Government legislation. Dookeran warned against fracturing of  the party. He said there was an “unresolved level of resentment brought on by the loss of the Government and wrapped with that is a desire to proportion blame.” He urged that this sentiment be replaced with forgiveness and healing. At the same time, the former Central Bank Governor, saw indications of “an ongoing resurgence” of the PNM, albeit based on “a system of politics that perpetuates dependency on the state and the creating of a nation of state clients.” But all was not lost for the UNC, Dookeran emphasised, since internally the party still possessed a very good pool of talent in all sectors — including public sector management; law; social and community; labour; business and finance, specialised health and communications. And, he stressed, the party also still commanded a significant level of stalwart support. However, he underlined, while persons and groups had already stepped forward to help in the transformation process, “they remain guarded against full political support until tangible changes start.”

As he sketched the path to transformation, Dookeran focused heavily on unity and on a strong “unification plan.” He maintained that the politics of the legislative agenda had to be rigorously examined.  And he cited as critical areas in this regard the Caribbean Court of Justice; National Budget 2004; Caroni Land Development Policy; Government  Housing Policy; Diplomatic Relations; Anti-Terrorism Law; Constitution Reform and legislation to protect the interest of labour. Dookeran cautioned that the “seemingly” boisterous economy, characterised by large foreign direct investment in the energy sector, was producing “jobless growth.” In this context, he proposed that the party concentrate on issues affecting labour as the current scenario had created an unsettled atmosphere with the labour unions. Dookeran is the second MP to openly question the party’s direction and specifically its policies of non-cooperation. St Joseph MP, Gerald Yetming has taken a similar position.