Winston meets Kamla, but

FOLLOWING talks lasting over an hour, UNC Political Leader Winston Dookeran and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar failed to reach an agreement on the issue of the Chief Whip yesterday.

The “fruitful and candid” talks were held at Dookeran’s constituency office in St Augustine.

Persad-Bissessar supports Hamza Rafeeq while Dookeran, according to sources, is proposing Roodal Moonilal for the post of Opposition Chief Whip. However, both leaders said they were committed to reaching an accord in time for tomorrow’s sitting of the House of Representatives.

“We will continue our discussions so that we can arrive at a common front for legislative agenda facing us. With respect to the Chief Whip issue, we will also continue discussions on this,” Dookeran said, adding that they would meet “most likely” today.

Persad-Bissessar said she was hopeful that good sense would prevail “for both of us” on the question of the Chief Whip. Dookeran said they also discussed the Equal Opportunities Bill, which they wanted to see tabled and debated in Parliament as early as possible.

Both leaders said they were committed to dealing with any legislation — including special majority bills- from a common position. “There is one UNC in the Parliament and we will operate as one in respect of any bill that comes to the Parliament,” Dookeran asserted.

On Panday’s resignation as Chairman, Dookeran said he spoke with Panday and he got the impression that Panday was very firm on his decision. Dookeran added that he planned to speak with Panday further before taking a position on this matter.

At the end of their discussions both leaders were heading to Rienzi Complex for the emergency Executive meeting to discuss Panday’s resignation.

On reports (from Deputy Political Leader Jack Warner) that Dookeran had missed two Executive meetings and could be thrown out if he had missed a third, Persad-Bissessar said, “That information is incorrect. Mr Dookeran was there at the Executive meeting last Monday. I don’t think we have had three meetings thereafter,” she said.