Panday launches attack on opposing UNC slate

Panday’s scathing attack was in obvious reference to the slate which Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal is leading. Moonilal is contesting the deputy political leader post and St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran, who is in Panday’s slate, is the uncontested political leader.

Panday was in a biting mood when he addressed a cottage meeting Thursday night at School Trace, New Grant. Contesting the UNC chairmanship post, Panday, who has given way to Dookeran for political leadership, said there were two major reasons for the existence of a rival slate. He said the first was political power and second had to do with his refusal to vanish from the political scene and "walk into the sunset."

Panday, however, said that his slate, which includes Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath and Dr Tim Gopeesingh, was determined to protect and defend the cause of the support base of the UNC.

Panday told a large turnout of supporters who stood on the road under a tent, "We believe that the UNC should be kept alive no matter what. Why is that a problem. Well, it is a problem because the people on the other slate say if we have to kill off the UNC, let us kill it off so long as we get into power. So long as we join some other organisation and get into power."

There were murmurs in the crowd when Panday said, "Now that we are coming up to elections again, there are people who believe in our party that that is what we must do. They feel that we must mash up the UNC again and we must become absorbed into a new political organisation much like we did in 1985 in order to form the NAR." Panday said his slate of candidates was firmly against absorption into a new political entity. He cited the experiences of the ULF/NAR alliance which defeated the George Chambers administration in 1986. But that coalition fragmented a year later, Panday said, after a fall out with then Prime Minister Arthur NR Robinson.

Panday expressed the view that a second slate had opted to contest the elections only when he (Panday) offered himself for chairmanship of the party.

"They say I shouldn’t contest the chairmanship," Panday said. "I should walk off the political stage and walk into the sunset." There was deafening silence among the crowd as Panday thundered: "Walk off into the wilderness never to be seen or heard of again. So that they could do what they want with the party — they could mash it up if they want."

Then Panday dropped the bombshell: "I eh letting that happen. They talking about new driver and new bus, but no passenger. They want me to take my luxury liner full with passenger, hit it against the wharf, mash it up and carry the people into them bus. I have decided to contest the chairmanship, because I cannot abandon you."

Panday, who pointed out that he had personally approved the appointment of St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran, said he was unsure if his slate had the backing of the former Central Bank Governor.

"But I expect that having given up the leadership to Mr Winston Dookeran voluntarily, I would have his support for my slate," Panday said.

Several UNC activists who attended the meeting held in front the residence of Princes Town Regional Corporation councillor, Gowrie Roopnarine, commented afterwards that the UNC’s internal elections stirred feelings of uncertainty for a brighter UNC. One supporter said the party was heading for a break-up similar to what occurred between Panday and former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

Also attending the meeting were Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma, Princes Town MP Subhas Panday, Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation chairman Ramlochan Panchoo, and Princes Town Regional Corporation chairman Premchan Ramchan.

The party’s executive elections are carded for October 2 in which financial members will cast their ballots in their respective constituencies.