Bas back at UNC helm

The executive, including Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, all gave the thumbs up for Panday to once again take over the helm, in spite of his conviction in April on public misconduct charges. Panday got a two-year jail sentence and fine for failing to declare a London bank account in his wife Oma’s name while he was prime minister, under the Integrity in Public Life Act. Panday has appealed the sentence and his case comes up for hearing early next year. He is in London with Oma and is due back at the end of the year.

Persad-Bissessar, who successfully secured the Opposition Leader’s position following Panday’s conviction, said his conviction was not seen as an obstacle to the party.

“Whether or not he has a conviction, who is against him will always be against him. But the fact is, he has thousands of supporters,” Persad-Bissessar told Newsday, moments after the UNC caucus at Rienzi Complex, Couva.

The UNC has been run by a leadership council, that includes deputy political leaders Jack Warner and Wade Mark, since former political leader Winston Dookeran broke away to form the Congress of the People.

Persad-Bissessar said Panday’s skills as a politician are needed now to heal divisions in the UNC. “He can bring us the kind of stability in the party which would form the bedrock to take us into the new year which is an election year,” she said.

She said Panday is the party’s de facto leader.

During a media briefing, UNC vice chairman Vasant Bharat said Panday will function on an interim basis until an internal election is held for a new political leader. However, Bharat could not say when that will take place.

Reading from a statement, Bharat said, “The national executive of the UNC met this afternoon and unanimously and wholeheartedly reaffirmed its support and respect for, and loyalty and committment to our chairman Basdeo Panday.”

Panday’s Couva North seat was declared vacant when he did not seek an extension of his 150-day absence from Parliament because of his legal troubles. There has not been a by-election given that a general election is due next year. Parliament has since evicted Panday from the Couva North constituency office. He has however found a new home, sharing office space in Chaguanas with Warner.