GANGA NAH LEAVIN’

Singh said Panday could not arrogate on to himself a power that was given in the party’s constitution to the Political Leader.

In support of his position, he quoted Article 17 of the party’s constitution, which states that the Chief Whip was appointed (and revoked) by the Political Leader after consultation with members of the parliamentary caucus.

"The appointment and revocation of the Chief Whip is within the discretion of the Political Leader. So any attempt (to remove the Chief Whip by the Opposition Leader ) would be ultra vires the party’s constitution and would be a usurpation of Winston Dookeran’s role," Singh said. And a top parliamentary authority is of the view that Singh’s position had merit and that the Leader of the Opposition could not depose Chief Whip.

"All the research and learning on this issue suggest that it is the Political Leader who has the power of appointment and revocation relative to that position," the source stated.

Singh he said served at the "pleasure of the Political Leader and if Mr Dookeran indicates that he no longer requires my services, I shall demit office."

"I have no deed of conveyance or any kind of deed for this office," he said, adding that he had performed the job to the best of his ability.

Asked what he would do if Panday wrote to the Speaker attempting to have him (Singh) removed, Singh said, "I am taking the position that the proper procedure must be followed. The party constitution specifically states that it is only the Political Leader who appoints and revokes the Chief Whip," he reiterated.

Asked if he regretted his speech in Parliament on Friday, in which he criticised those who were prepared to "sleep with the devil," Singh, once considered a favoured son, remained firm about his stance. "Who the cap fits, let them wear it. I will not participate in any slumber with the devil. There are so many angels and ephemeral beings that I can sleep with," he said. Panday has said in the past that he was prepared to sleep with the devil to remove the PNM.

Singh said that consistent with his manner of approaching his job, he had called the secretary (at Rienzi Complex) to inform her that he had convened a caucus for Wednesday. House Speaker Barry Sinanan yesterday said that he had not been communicated with officially on the issue. "When I am asked to make a decision, I will. And I am not presupposing anything," he said, declining to comment further.

Dookeran whose role in a dismissal of Singh would be critical, said in response to a question that he had no difficulty with the way Singh had been performing his functions. Dookeran had given table-thumping support to Singh’s statement in the Parliament last Friday.

However, the Political Leader stressed that the issue of Singh being fired was conjecture at this point. Panday said the issue of Singh’s removal was a matter which would have to be considered by the party.

Asked to comment on Singh’s statement in Parliament, Panday said, "You really want me to express it? You sure you could print it?" Panday had told the party’s executive on Sunday that Singh had made his last speech as Opposition Chief Whip when he spoke last Friday in Parliament.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar took issue with the idea of the Political Leader appointing the Chief Whip (as stated in the UNC constitution). She insisted that it was the prerogative of the Opposition Leader since the Constitution did not recognise any person in the Opposition except the Opposition Leader. "I was surprised by Ganga Singh’s statement in Parliament, especially since he was, in a sense, created by Panday," she said. Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran yesterday rejected the idea of removing Singh. He said Singh had treated everyone equally. He said he had nothing personal against Hamza Rafeeq or Kamla Persad-Bissessar (whom he felt Panday would select once he was attempting to remove Singh), but he hoped that all his colleagues would examine their consciences before attempting to "betray" Singh. Ramsaran said it was unfortunate that Panday, who was ostensibly preaching unity, was seeking to divide his MPs at every opportunity.

Article 17 of the UNC constitution states: "The parliamentary caucus shall be chaired by the leader of the party’s business in the House of Representatives appointed or revoked by the political leader after consultation with members of the House of Representatives."