UNC: Ramesh gone through

THE OPPOSITION United National Congress (UNC) yesterday scoffed at former Attorney-General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj’s boast that his “new political vehicle” will oust the People’s National Movement (PNM) to form the next government in 2007. Maharaj left yesterday for New York where he will address Trinidadians living there about forming this group. The former AG said Trinidad and Tobago will be surprised with this still-unnamed party (which reportedly already has a draft constitution) and its policies. However, UNC Chairman Wade Mark declared: “His (Maharaj) intellectual faculty of reasoning has taken permanent flight. Life is about dreams and people do dream but the real challenge is how one translates dreams into reality. He is engaging in daydreaming.” Mark told Newsday that Maharaj does not have “the slightest chance” of forming a national party, much less forming the next government because he committed “political suicide” when he betrayed the UNC in 2001.

The UNC chairman said the electorate will judge Maharaj harshly for shattering the hopes and aspirations of working people by his actions. However, while maintaining that Maharaj’s ambitions were nothing but “a pipe dream,” Mark noted that under the Constitution, people were free to form political parties to contest elections if they wished and “time alone will tell.”  Following the closure of Caroni (1975) Limited in July, Maharaj was active in his efforts to champion the rights of former Caroni workers and cane farmers. Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday told Newsday that Maharaj’s true agenda was to draw UNC supporters into his fold. Following Sunday’s PNM General Council meeting at Balisier House, Prime Minister Patrick Manning revealed that the party’s recent membership drive saw 7,000 persons joining the PNM with a “significant influx of people” from Central Trinidad. Manning said the PNM would ensure that new members feel welcome and participate fully in all spheres of the party’s activities.