Dookeran clears the air

UNC political leader Winston Dookeran denied backing Caroni Central MP Dr Hamza Rafeeq as Opposition chief whip in the House of Representatives as a trade-off for the reinstatement of Robin Montano, in the Senate.

Rafeeq is in the pro-Panday faction of the UNC which is led by Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Montano had been fired by Panday from the Upper House.

Rafeeq took his place on the UNC front benches next to the Opposition Leader’s seat at last Friday’s sitting of the House, taking the place of Caroni MP Ganga Singh, who has been the Opposition Chief Whip for the past five years.

Dookeran made it clear that there was no “I-scratch-your-back-you-scratch-mine” deal when it came to Rafeeq’s appointment. He was speaking to reporters on Saturday during a walkabout in Chaguanas.

He remarked that UNC members were “very confused and disillusioned” by the current divisions in the party. “We want to see a quick and speedy resolution to the problems we face,” Dookeran said.

During the walkabout, Dookeran met several persons and was seen in deep conversation with them. He also visited a doctor’s office during the said walkabout.

Dookeran added that he was now trying to create unity in the UNC — his main priority — by bringing together its different groupings. He said the UNC must prepare itself to be a serious political challenge to the ruling PNM and to deal with the country’s problems.

As regards the post of UNC chairman from which Basdeo Panday has offered his resignation but which the various arms of the party have so far refused to accept, Dookeran said the party must now consider the best options available.

Panday, a former prime minister, resigned as party chairman, a move — if accepted by the party — is seen by many as signalling the end of his long career in Trinidad and Tobago’s politics. His resignation comes in the wake of him being sentenced to two years for failing to declare his London Bank account to the Integrity Commission. This sentence has been appealed and Panday is out on bail pending the outcome of the appeal.

Also on Saturday’s walkabout with Dookeran were UNC Senator Sadiq Baksh and Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran.