UNC falls apart

Yesterday Dookeran dispatched a
letter to Opposition Leader and party
Chairman Basdeo Panday expressing
his deep concern that Robin Montano
was dismissed from the Senate by
Panday; and that the party was sponsoring
a mass political rally to
announce Ramesh Lawrence
Maharaj’s re-entry into the UNC.
Dookeran, who called for the cancellation
of this meeting said he was
doing so “in order to ensure stability
within the UNC.”
However, the UNC is anything but
stable at this point. Contrary to
Dookeran’s statements that he had
nothing to do with the Mid-Centre
Mall meeting, Panday told Sunday
Newsday that the meeting was “an
Executive decision and Mr Dookeran
is a member of the Executive.”
Panday added that only the Executive
(which he, Panday controls by a comfortable
majority) could revoke its
own decision.
One thing is certain, next Sunday’s
meeting, if it comes off, holds the
potential to determine which one of
the aspirants will emerge as the undisputed
power broker and the real and
effective political leader within the
UNC. Panday told Sunday Newsday
that he expected the rank and file to
throng to Mid-Centre Mall “in their
thousands” next Sunday. Told that the
meeting would be a critical “make or
break” point in the struggle within the
party, Panday said he did not know
what “their” struggle was.” What do
they want? They want me to give up
the Opposition Leader position? I
have told them that is a matter for the
MPs to decide, according to the
Constitution,” he said. Asked whether
the party was falling apart, Panday
said no. Some people wanted unity
while others didn’t. He added that the
party would weather this storm
because of the rank and file, not the
leaders. Asked who was the “devil,”
Panday said he didn’t know and suggested
that perhaps Ganga Singh,
who spoke about the devil in the
Parliament, might have some idea.
Panday recalled that he spoke of the
devil once — in response to a question
about his decision to realign himself
with ANR Robinson in 1995. He
replied he was at the time explaining
that the most important thing was
beating the PNM. Panday, however,
did not recall ever referring to
Maharaj as the devil. “And if I did, it
would have been because of anger,”
he added. He said those opposing
unity could sleep with whomsoever
they wanted, but the rank and file will
determine the direction and fate of the
party. Panday said he did not see how
Maharaj’s re-entry into the party
threatened Dookeran’s position as
Political Leader as was being alleged.
“Mr Dookeran does not suffer from
an inferiority complex, and he is not
afraid of people who have ideas, so I
think that they are underestimating
him,” Panday said.
On the Montano issue, Panday
indicated that he did not fire anyone
from the Senate. He was merely exercising
the option to appoint someone
else and to bring a different point of
view, he added. He recalled that he
had stated from the beginning that he
would review appointments to the
Senate as and when required. “And I
may do it again,” he said. Asked
whether the appointment of Senator
Carolyn Seepersad Bachan was going
to be revoked this Tuesday, Panday
cautioned Sunday Newsday against
listening to “rumours.”
In his statement, Dookeran said
Montano had been one of the most
outspoken and effective Senators and
he saw no reason for his removal
from the Upper House. “Over the last
24 hours I have been consulting with
party members at all levels. I share
their dismay over Montano’s dismissal,”
he said. Suggesting that
Montano was fired for speaking
against Maharaj’s return, Dookeran
said the UNC had always distinguished
itself from other political
vehicles by allowing the freedom of
speech and expression within its
ranks. “It is now perceived that to
speak freely is to incur the wrath of
the party. This perception is certain to
undermine the confidence the members
have placed in the leadership and
we must not allow this perception to
become a reality,” he said.
Yesterday Senator Sadiq Baksh,
whose face is prominently featured in
a UNC ad as one of the speakers in
next Sunday’s meeting expressed
shock that his picture was there.
Baksh who is party organiser said his
views were well known in the party
about the meeting and about
Maharaj’s re-entry. He is reported to
have told the Executive that he would
be no part of that. “I have never slept
with the devil...and I do not plan to
sleep with the devil now that I know
who he is,” Baksh said yesterday.
He said the UNC had a “big problem.”
“The legitimate chain of authority
was being broken and the Political
Leader was having his position compromised
by the actions of the
Chairman,” Baksh stated.
Chief Whip Ganga Singh, when
asked if he was attacking Panday
directly in Parliament, when he
referred to those sleeping with the
devil, said, “The thing speaks for
itself.” Asked whether he would
attend next Sunday’s meeting, Singh
said only “God will determine
that...When I say my prayers (I will
know),” he said. He added that he
planned to meet his constituency
Executive tomorrow to decide
whether his constituency should be
mobilised to attend the meeting.
However, Chandresh Sharma and
Harry Partap said they were busy
mobilising their constituents for the
meeting. They said people were
“excited” by what was taking place in
the party. “They have no objection to
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj coming
back. Nariva has been saying so (that
he should return) for a long time and
that what happened in the past is
water under the bridge,” Partap stated.
Sharma said he would be present
next Sunday “lock, stock and barrel.”
“I will be accompanied by thousands
of people from the constituencies of
Fzybad, La Brea and Point Fortin.
Sunday is the first hope. And people
want hope. And Ramesh Lawrence
Maharaj is part of that hope. And others
will follow him and return,” he
said. Hamza Rafeeq stated that he
would be present at Mid-Centre Mall
and that he was mobilising his constituency.
But when asked whether he
was supporting the return of Maharaj,
he said, “I am not getting into that. I
am not answering that.”