UNC SUMMIT IN TRINCITY

Attending the meeting were Chairman Basdeo Panday, and Deputy Political Leaders — Jack Warner, Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Wade Mark. The meeting, which lasted from 10.30 am to 12.15 pm, was held under the auspices of the Political Leader.

Sources said the meeting was called because the leadership felt that it was not serving the party’s interest to have all the burning issues ventilated in public.

Sources stated that the meeting was aimed at working out some kind of truce, while the contentious matters which divide the major combatants are resolved.

Yesterday marked one month since the UNC Executive elections. Since that election, the attacks between members of the two contesting teams — Patriots and Progressives — have been unceasing.

Former Progressives have accused the Chairman (Panday) of reneging on an agreement to step down as Opposition Leader, of being unsuitable for public office, and of being unworthy of their confidence and support. Panday, in turn, has accused key members of Dookeran’s team of wanting to hijack the party and of seeking to mash it up.

Asked if a cessation of the hostilities was agreed to at the meeting, one source stated: "I would not go so far." Sources however conceded that it was a conciliation meeting.

And in contrast to what has been happening with other assemblies of the party, all the participants at yesterday’s session were tight-lipped on what was discussed. Dookeran would only confirm that the meeting took place, but refused to reveal details. Panday had "no comment." An uncharacteristically reticent Warner stated: "We took a vow of silence which I have to respect. I only have the authority to say "no comment." An equally reserved Mark stuck to a no comment posture. Persad-Bissessar did not answer her phone.

Sources noted the venue of the meeting- Dookeran’s home — as distinct from the party’s Rienzi Complex headquarters, or the Opposition Leader’s office — was interesting. Sources also noted that the one missing person from that top nucleus of the Executive was the Vice-Chairman, Vasant Bharath. They suggested he was not present considering the manner in which he came to office, and given the fact that Dookeran is persisting with his call for an inquiry in this matter.

After the meeting, Panday (via CEO Tim Gopeesingh) informed members of the parliamentary caucus and the Executive that both meetings, scheduled to take place at 3 pm and 5 pm respectively at Rienzi Complex, were cancelled.

Speaking with Newsday yesterday, Panday denied rumours that he had planned to resign his seat in Parliament to allow former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to enter the House of Representatives. He also described reports that he and Maharaj had planned to speak on the same platform as "false and foolish." "No such meeting has been arranged," he said.

Panday reiterated that he was not giving up the position of Opposition Leader. In response to questions on whether he could consider resigning, Panday satirised: "I could also consider committing suicide." Panday said he owed a duty to the people who supported him for 40 years. He added that these people had spoken recently in the UNC elections and (by their vote) had told him what they wanted him to do. He noted that many of the people who were making suggestions on what course the UNC should pursue, were not party members.

Panday declined comment on statements made by Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran — that he had lost all confidence in his leadership — saying that he was not prepared to discuss party matters in the media.