Dookeran not replacing me

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday said yesterday there was absolutely no truth to talk in political circles that St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran will be replacing him as UNC political leader. Certain political sources claimed discussions about a post-Panday UNC have been taking place, but those talks have been inconclusive to date. When Dookeran first joined the UNC prior to the October 2002 general elections, speculation was rife that he would replace Panday as UNC leader. The view articulated by several political pundits was that Dookeran could restore the party’s image which had been damaged by several of its frontline MPs, including Panday, after allegations of corruption were levelled against the former government. That leadership transition has not taken place to date. Contacted about the latest rumours making the political circuit, Panday told Newsday: “I don’t know of such a decision.”

Panday reiterated that he wanted to retire from active politics at age 70  and would make way as soon as the UNC finds a suitable replacement for him. “I would like to go,” he said. However, Panday said he is not resigning as UNC leader and talk about Dookeran replacing him was just that. Dookeran supported Panday’s position on these latest rumours. Panday has made it clear on several occasions that he would not abandon the UNC in midstream and thus leave it vulnerable to political predators. The UNC leader has identified his former deputy and attorney-general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj as one such predator. Maharaj has publicly stated that he has no desire to return to the UNC and the party needed to be completely overhauled if it is to have any credibility with the population.