Dookeran bats out of his crease

In a statement released to the media yesterday afternoon, the political leader designate evinced a degree of forthrightness and courage not displayed so far in this internal election campaign.

In what seemed like a virtual declaration of support for the UNC "Progressives," Dookeran denounced the "intemperate and vitriolic personal attacks" made by "certain members of one of the slates." While Dookeran did not name the perpetrators of these "unwarranted personal attacks," he did name the victims "of the villification on Monday night." They were, he said, Sadiq Baksh, Gerald Yetming, Jack Warner, Roodal Moonilal and Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan. They are all members of the "UNC Progressives" team.

Dookeran stated, "Monday evening, after I heard these irresponsible statements made on the platform, I warned against such conduct and against the tendency by these individuals to reduce debates on critical issues to character assassination." On Monday night, Panday presented his slate of candidates at the Couva meeting at which Dookeran spoke.

In a virtual endorsement, Dookeran asked how could anyone question the dedication and political bona fides of Sadiq Baksh or the integrity of the "highly regarded former finance minister" and "astute political strategist" Gerald Yetming; or the love, personal sacrifice, loyalty and dedication of Jack Warner; or the commitment of Roodal Moonilal "one of the brightest stars to emerge in our party," or the selfless service given by Seepersad-Bachan.

In an apparent jab at "Team Patriots," Dookeran described "these honourable persons as "UNC loyalists and national patriots." They were not "interlopers," he added.

He concluded, "I once again urge colleagues within the party who claim to be patriots to conduct themselves in a mature, responsible manner that uplifts the debate and advances the most important objective — the return of the United National Congress to Government in order to deliver our nation from the deepening crisis which confronts Trinidad and Tobago."

In an immediate reaction, UNC chairman designate Basdeo Panday avoided making a statement that could be construed as a personal attack on his incoming political leader. Panday instead stressed that this was all part of the process.

"I have been conducting a campaign based on principle," he maintained.

He added, "I must admit though that anyone with a little political experience would know that all boxers don’t react in the same way (in the ring)."

Asked if he believed that members of his team, himself included, were guilty of engaging in personal attacks, Panday said he did not want to engage in generalisations.

Asked if he believed that all of these individuals (on both slates) would be able to work together after the elections, Panday said he had no doubt that "we will because the object of this exercise is to remove the PNM."

He said he believed that he felt that all people would respect the democratic decisions. "We are about an exercise in democracy where people must be free to speak their minds," he said, adding, "This is not a bishop’s tea party."

Panday conceded, however, that the country was not accustomed to this. He pointed out that the Americans had the primaries system in which members of the same party engaged in a contest to determine the standard-bearers for that particular party for key political offices, including that of the position of President. "How will we get there (that kind of political culture) if we don’t start somewhere?" he asked.

Panday said one of the advantages of democracy was that people were able to look at their leaders as they pursued power. "It’s all part of the democracy process. And you can’t learn to swim from reading. You need to get into the water," he said.