Panday to fly out for daughter’s wedding

Panday added that the elections, which would enable financial members to either elect or reinstate the party executive leadership, was part of the "unfolding democratic process within the UNC." The post of political leader will be up for grabs in this election.

Panday said, "we are building a democratic party whose leadership is elected by the rank and file and which is totally unlike that of the PNM whose leader is elected by a cabal of delegates." He added that he was very happy to see what was taking place with the elections.

"I believe the UNC is sufficiently matured to the point where you can have two competing sides and when the elections are over, the party will emerge stronger than ever."

Panday likened the UNC elections to conventions held by the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States in the election of their respective candidates for the US presidential campaign.

Asked if rumours of stepping down from the party’s leadership were true, Panday said he had not made up his mind about whether or not to contest the position of political leader. "No, I have not made up my mind about what to do as yet," Panday said.

He disclosed to Newsday that he would leave for the United Kingdom for the next three weeks to attend his daughter’s wedding ceremony in Scotland. The date for the party’s internal elections was pushed back from September 18 to October 2 after a letter, reportedly signed by eight UNC parliamentarians, was sent to the party’s chairman Wade Mark.

Meanwhile, UNC CEO Dr Tim Gopeesingh said the party’s internal elections would be conducted on the one-man one-vote democratic principle to ensure transparency and openness in the UNC.

He also confirmed that every position within the party would be up for grabs, including that of political leader.