Timeline of the UNC leadership crisis

OCTOBER 1, 2005: Just over 25,000 vote for a new party executive.

OCTOBER 11, 2005: Ramesh Maharaj confirms an exclusive Newsday report that he was offered a position as a UNC Senator by Basdeo Panday.

OCTOBER 13, 2005: Austin “Jack” Warner calls on Basdeo Panday to step aside and allow newly elected political leader Winston Dookeran to take over as Opposition Leader.

OCTOBER 16, 2005: St Joseph MP Gerald Yetming declares publicly that he no longer supports Basdeo Panday as Opposition Leader of the UNC.

DECEMBER 2, 2005: UNC deputy political leader Austin “Jack” Warner reconciles with Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday at a poorly attended meeting aimed at healing deep divisions within the party.

FEBRUARY 9, 2006: The UNC announces that Ramesh Maharaj will be one of its platform speakers at its February 19 political rally in Chaguanas.

FEBRUARY 10, 2006: Robin Montano is fired as a UNC Senator by Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday.

FEBRUARY 13, 2006: Roy Augustus resigns as a UNC Senator.

FEBRUARY 14, 2006: Track and field star Ato Boldon is sworn in as a UNC Senator to replace Robin Montano who was fired by Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday.

FEBRUARY 19, 2006: Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj makes a triumphant return to the frontlines of the UNC at a political rally at Mid Centre Mall, Chaguanas. Political leader Winston Dookeran is jeered and booed when he addresses the rally.

FEBRUARY 23, 2006: UNC Chief Whip Ganga Singh is referred to the UNC’s Disciplinary Committee for his veiled criticism of Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday in Parliament.

MARCH 28, 2006: St Joseph MP Gerald Yetming hints at the possibility of resigning from the UNC and throwing his support behind a “third force” political party.

APRIL 21, 2006: Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran, a supporter of UNC political leader Winston Dookeran, is kicked out of the party’s Executive.

APRIL 24, 2006: Basdeo Panday is jailed for two years after being found guilty of failing to declare a London bank account to the Integrity Commission.

APRIL 25, 2006: Panday’s appointment as Leader of the Opposition is revoked by President George Maxwell Richards.

APRIL 26, 2006: Kamla Persad-Bissessar is appointed Opposition Leader.

APRIL 28, 2006: Ganga Singh resigns as UNC Chief Whip. Singh and Dookeran join UNC Independents Gerald Yetming, Gillian Lucky and Fuad Khan on the Opposition back benches.