Dookeran unopposed as UNC Leader

Both men were yesterday nominated unopposed for the respective offices of political leader and chairman of the party.

The suspense in which the population was held during the past few weeks ended yesterday when nominations closed. Political Leader Panday kept his word and signed Winston Dookeran’s nomination papers. There will be no contest for these positions.

But the battlelines have been drawn in the struggle for the position of deputy political leader where the following seven candidates are up against each other: Kamla Persad Bissessar; Wade Mark, Robin Montano, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, Ca-rol Cuffie Dowlat and Roodal Moonilal.

Sources said Gerald Yetming was nominated unopposed for the post of deputy chairman. However, there was doubt about this as there was a view that Tim Gopeesingh filed papers for the position. Gopeesingh would only say that he filed nomination papers and that he is on the Panday slate. But he would not say for what position. Some sources said he filed papers for the position of deputy political leader.

Among the other nominees were Joe Pires (treasurer); Rabin-dranath Moonan (policy and research officer); Roy Augustus (election officer); Sadiq Baksh (party organiser); prolific letter writer Steve Kangal (education officer); and Ken Emrith (international relations officer). There were also nominees for the five regional officers — Manohar Ramsaran (Central); Roy Pariag (South east), Joshey Mahabir (East), Gary Griffith (West) and Barrington Skippy Thomas (Tobago).

Apart from Persad-Bissessar, Wade Mark, Montano and Gopeesingh (and Dookeran) sources were tight-lipped on who the other members of the Panday slate were.

Sources said yesterday that there was still room for discussion on the issue of a unified slate. They said there was still time for Panday to bring everyone together and work out a consensus team.

While yesterday was the deadline for nominations, candidates can withdraw. Tuesday is the deadline for some withdrawals. "Panday should meet all the slate-makers and hammer out a deal in the best interest of the party," one source stated.

The party has not officially released the names of the nominees. Chairman Mark told Newsday yesterday that the party was not in a position to release the names of candidates since the general secretary had to go through the nomination papers and ensure that all were in proper order.

Each nominee should have 36 financial members sign his nomination form. Panday was one of 36 finance members who sign Dookeran’s form, sources confirmed. Dookeran did not file personally as he was absorbed in funeral arrangements for his deceased brother, Harold.