WARNER TO DOOKERAN: TIME TO GO

“Let them who want a new party, a new politics, take they georgie bundle and go,” Warner said, while addressing a mass meeting at Debe Junction, Penal on Thursday night. The meeting was held in support of convicted UNC chairman, Basdeo Panday, who received a two-year sentence for breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act. Warner described comments by the party’s political leader after Panday’s conviction as “crocodile tears” and a veiled attempt at securing support for the position of opposition leader, which was ultimately given to Siparia MP, Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

“For 2 years, Panday has been in court but not once he come to Court and now he saying he has been insulted. We have been betrayed,” he said.

Warner added, “But if he wants to demonstrate his support, let him call a meeting as political leader of the UNC and let us see what kind of support he really has.” In a fighting mood, he also slammed members of Dookeran’s St Augustine constituency who have taken Warner before the party’s disciplinary committee for certain remarks he made against Dookeran on Monday night. Warner also dismissed speculation that Persad-Bissessar’s ascension to the post of Opposition leader was an interim measure saying she had been chosen because of her tremendous political expertise.

“This talk of interim political leader is nonsense,” he said, adding Persad-Bissessar was highly qualified for the position.

Also addressing the meeting was former UNC deputy political leader, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, who called on the large crowd of supporters to use Panday’s incarceration as the “turning point” for the removal of the Patrick Manning regime