St Augustine, Chaguanas, Caroni back Dookeran

All three executives condemned Wednesday’s no-confidence motion against Dookeran and the dismissals of Carol Cuffie-Dowlat (as UNC women’s affairs officer) and Sadiq Baksh and Carolyn Seepersad Bachan (as Opposition senators).

The dismissals of Baksh, Seepersad Bachan and Cuffy-Dowlat were also condemned in a statement from Dookeran’s communications officer, Nirad Tewarie. Tewarie also said Dookeran was not surprised by the no-confidence motion but would not be taking any legal action against the party’s executive at this time. Stating that Dookeran was keeping all his options open, Tewarie said the UNC leader will deal with this latest move to oust him by “going to the people” and rallying them to support his crusade to prevent the further disintegration of the UNC and establish the party as a viable political alternative to the ruling PNM.

Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, Dookeran’s St Augustine constituency executive described the actions of the national executive as “a calculated attempt” to remove him as political leader.

The St Augustine executive said the dismissals of Baksh and Seepersad Bachan were an act of vindictiveness by “the Fifa cabal” in the UNC. The St Augustine executive said the dismissals of Baksh and Seepersad Bachan “cannot be attributed to their lack of performance in the execution of their senatorial duties and responsibilities.”

The St Augustine executive added that Dookeran was being treated in similar fashion to former UNC St Joseph MP Gerald Yetming who was “illegally and fraudulently removed” as UNC deputy chairman following the party’s October 2005 internal elections.

The Caroni East executive said the national executive’s actions were “a desperate act by a desperate group” which cannot speak for the rank and file of the UNC’s membership and the Chaguanas constituency executive expressed alarm at the “a rapid deterioration” of the UNC and said it would meet on July 5 to discuss ways to prevent further disintegration of the party.