UNC decides on Bas’ resignation today

Panday gave no indication of whether he would also resign as MP for Couva North, triggering a by-election.

Political Leader Winston Dookeran who spoke with Panday yesterday afternoon, wanted to reserve comment until he met with Panday face to face on the issue.

Deputy Political Leader Jack Warner said while Panday did the morally correct thing, the party had not had enough time to consider a replacement and still needs to rely on his experience and judgment. Warner also stressed the party needed to show solidarity with Panday in his darkest hour.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated while Panday had done what he perceived to be the noble thing, she had no intention of accepting Panday’s resignation. She said Panday had and still has a tremendous contribution to make and she wanted to see him in the chair. She added that Panday’s role as a unifying force in the party was very critical especially at this time.

Former AG Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, echoed the view that Panday’s resignation should not be accepted. He said the membership of the UNC would want Panday to play an important role at least over the next year or two.

Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran, who had been calling for Panday’s resignation, stated Panday should make a “clean cut” and spend his retirement “like a senior statesman in dignity, like Mandela.”

Gerald Yetming stated that Panday has done the proper thing. “But unfortunately it would not make any difference to the politics of the UNC, since those who were scared and who felt beholden to him would do anything that he says.”

Barataria/San Juan MP Fuad Khan however dismissed Panday’s resignation as a ploy. “There will be an orchestrated ‘groundswell’ managed by sympathisers, and a call for Mr Panday not to go,” he predicted.

Such a move, said Khan, would sideline all those who aspired to lead the UNC — Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, UNC Political Leader Winston Dookeran, and former attorney general Ramesh Maharaj.

The party may even call fresh elections for its executive, he said, alluding to a ploy to shift Winston Dookeran.

Khan recalled previous occasions when Panday failed to adhere to deals to step down.

Pointe-a-Pierre MP Gillian Lucky said that despite Panday’s resignation as UNC chairman, he will remain in charge but behind the scenes.

“Resigning as chairman of the UNC doesn’t mean that Mr Panday is no longer calling the shots,” she said.

Unless the UNC was seen as transparent and accountable, she said, the resignation will not be seen in a singular light but as part of some greater plan possibly done by the “cabal” to have its own way in the party.

Deputy Political Leader Wade Mark said Panday’s resignation did not signal his political end. “We have not seen the back of Mr Panday. He will be here for a long time,” Mark said.