Panday ready to pick Ramesh replacement

THE United National Congress (UNC) is moving to fill the most controversial vacant position in the party — that of deputy political leader. Party insiders told Newsday political leader Basdeo Panday is likely to accept a recommendation from the executive that the UNC constitution be amended to allow him to appoint the deputy political leader, rather than continue with established one-man-one vote procedure to fill that post. According to Article 12 of the UNC constitution headed: “Executive Positions,” the post of deputy political leader is among 13 elected positions in the party. A well-placed UNC source told Newsday yesterday: “There seems to be moves to have the constitution changed to allow the political leader to appoint the deputy political leader.”

Under the party’s constitution, only the party’s national assembly can ratify an amendment of the constitution. Acceptance of such a move, Newsday learned, is gradually being filtered down from the leadership of the UNC to the rank and file members. At the party’s June 2001 executive elections, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, now the leader of National Team Unity, Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar and former Works Minister Carlos John fought for the position. Maharaj won the post but did not last for long as he was expelled from the party just months after those elections. If the change is made, word is that Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh would be Panday’s likely choice for deputy political leader.  Sources said St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran has already indicated his unwillingness to accept the post. Contacted yesterday for comment, former UNC executive member Trevor Sudama said: “What we are seeing is an attempt by the political leader to ensure that whoever is his deputy political leader, is of his own choosing.”