Pressure for Dookeran

According to sources, Panday’s team dominated the proceedings of the executive and Dookeran struggled to get support from the former Patriots on all the issues he raised.

Sources said right through the meeting Panday was the "diplomat," but other members of the executive — former Patriots — challenged and attempted to intimidate the political leader, who by the end of the meeting wore a look of frustration on his face.

According to sources, when Dookeran told the executive that he planned to meet the people in the various constituencies as the new political leader, he was told by Adesh Nanan, (international relations officer) "the Tabaquite tiger," that he was out of place to be entering constituencies, including his, without the permission of the MP. Dookeran is to tour Tabaquite today.

Fyzabad MP (treasurer) Chandresh Sharma also chimed in, telling Dookeran that he needed executive approval for such meetings, sources said. And Wade Mark also wanted to know what the procedure was for the walkabout, and whether it was a party or a Political Leader initiative.

Dookeran responded that he was determined to perform his duties as Political Leader as envisioned in the UNC’s constitution. He said he would not be restricted by bureaucratic attitudes in the exercise of the prerogative. Gary Griffith also reportedly intervened, accusing them of hypocrisy and double-standards since, he said, the party’s Monday night forums had been held in various constituencies without seeking the "approval" of MPs, particularly during the internal elections.

Sources said they wondered if all these questions and comments would have been put to Panday, had he announced either in his previous capacity as political leader, or in his capacity as chairman, that he was going to meet the people. But sources said that the most heated discussion was over the question of the recount for the position of vice-chairman and whether the new executive could be sworn in because of the concerns about the integrity of the process.

Dookeran was very firm in his conviction that the executive should not be sworn in with all the doubts hovering over the recount. The political leader also questioned the dismissal of the Elections Committee (by Panday) when it was known that he (Dookeran) had written the committee and was awaiting its response on his request for an inquiry. He urged the executive to wait.

Panday reportedly argued that the show must go on. He then said it seemed to be unanimous — that the executive should be sworn in.

Dookeran replied that it was not because he was against this, in light of the discrepancies and queries. Panday said it appeared to be the consensus that the executive be sworn in. Dookeran was insistent, countering that there was no consensus because he had grave concerns. According to sources, Panday said it appeared that Dookeran was the only one who felt this way. At this stage, Gary Griffith, who was present at Rienzi on the day of the recount, intervened and started detailing some of the irregularities he witnessed. He said that he also had grave reservations about the executive being sworn in.

In response, Panday said it seemed that the matter would have to be settled in court, sources said. The executive proceeded to vote on the issue, and it voted 11-4 in favour of the executive being sworn in on Wednesday October 26. Those voting against were Dookeran, Sadiq Baksh, Gary Griffith and Carl Hector, the regional representative for Tobago (the only Patriot to do so).

Gary Griffith, who attended the meeting, declined to discuss the details of the meeting. However, he said, "It is a sad day when leaders don’t have control."