UNC: Britain upset with TT

THE BRITISH government is reportedly upset with certain actions of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), such as its “inadequate response towards crime and terrorism.” This was the claim from the Opposition United National Congress’ (UNC) United Kingdom Support Group.

Speaking with Newsday from their London headquarters yesterday, UNC officials stated: “We have been able to raise sensitive issues at a very high level within the Government of the UK and will continue to do so as long as the Government discriminates against civic groups within TT. The UK government is well aware of what is happening in TT and will signal its displeasure appropriately, keeping in mind its diplomatic, foreign and commonwealth agendas. We do not expect the UK government to interfere directly in TT. However, they will persuade by whatever means available to them. Some means of persuasion include benefits (assistance to the people of TT) or withdrawal of such accordingly. It is in the best interest of the PNM administration to address pertinent issues of crime, corruption and discrimination with transparency.”

Last month, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday urged TT nationals living in the UK to form pressure groups to lobby British parliamentarians to encourage the British government to influence events in TT. UNC officials in London said their group currently comprises over 1,000 TT, British and other European nationals. “We already have links to the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties as well as links with the UK media and other lobby groups,” they stated. UNC groups are located in London (five groups), Southampton, Birmingham, Leicester, Manchester, Cardiff (Wales), Edinburgh and Aberdeen (Scotland). The London collective groups account for 700 members. In Europe, the UNC has small groups of less than 20 individuals based in Oslo (Norway), Stockholm (Sweden), Paris (France), Berlin (Germany) and Rome (Italy). UNC officials explained that the purpose of these groups include “raising awareness of political developments within TT, lobbying and raising funds.”

The UNC also has groups in Canada and the United States. One of the most recent UNC overseas groups was one called “Friends of the UNC” which was formed last month in New York City by Guyanese attorney-at-law Kawal Totaram. In an interview last month from his New York home, Totaram told Newsday the “Friends of the UNC” were not party-card members but were formed to “internationalise” events in TT because failure to do so would cause the Opposition to “stifle and die.” Prior to the October 2002 general elections, Totaram held a UNC fund-raising event at a building in Queens, New York City which raised US$50,000 for the party’s elections war chest. Panday attended that function along with Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh, Opposition MPs Winston Dookeran and Kamla Persad-Bissessar and former UNC MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters.