Dookeran, UNC forces mobilising

The UNC meanwhile launched its mass mobilisation exercise in Couva yesterday and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the UNC has not been advised by its lawyers to take any action against Dookeran for allegedly “abdicating” his responsibilities as UNC political leader.

Contacted yesterday at Piarco International Airport before he boarded a flight to Tobago, Dookeran told Newsday he was visiting the sister isle at the request of several interested persons. Dookeran said he hoped to have productive discussions with them about the upcoming Congress. Asked whether the UNC had launched any new political offensive against him, Dookeran said there was only one side in this entire issue and that was the single, credible political party that he was building to successfully challenge the PNM in next year’s general elections. Dookeran added that the Congress is generating a lot of public interest and people are working behind the scenes to make it a success.

Former UNC senator Sadiq Baksh said the response from persons wishing to attend the Congress was “unbelievable” and the growing interest in Dookeran’s “new politics” was generating a “political tsunami” in Trinidad and Tobago.

Baksh said teams of persons have been holding meetings throughout TT over the last few weeks to sensitise the public on several national issues and to encourage them to attend the Congress.

Baksh added that the Congress will be addressed by a battery of powerful speakers, with Dookeran delivering the feature address. Persad-Bissessar said it was all systems go for the UNC’s preparations for the 2007 general elections which kicked off yesterday with a meeting at the party’s Couva South constituency office. Following the executive meeting at Rienzi Complex, the party issued a release stating that since Dookeran had “abdicated” his role as political leader, a leadership council had been formed to perform his duties.

Contacted yesterday Acting CEO of the Commission, Versil Charles-Wright confirmed yesterday that neither Dookeran nor anyone acting on his behalf has registered a new party with the EBC.

Last week, UNC deputy leader Wade Mark claimed that Dookeran planned to register a party called the New National Congress with the EBC, whose name and alleged symbol (a risen sun) closely resembled those of the UNC. UNC chairman Vasant Bharath said persons from the Dookeran camp were trying to encourage UNC supporters to attend the Congress but the party will let its supporters decide on their own whether to attend or not.