Panday claims UNC disunity problems over

PARTY UNITY and the elimination of poverty took centre stage as the leadership of the United National Congress (UNC) outlined its strategy to wrest control of the Government from the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM). Sharing a joint platform at Palmiste Presbyterian School in Caparo on Monday evening, both UNC Political Leader Winston Dookeran and Chairman Basdeo Panday said that record high crime rates, soaring food prices and rampant poverty had severely weakened the PNM’s political ratings. “This Government is ripe for the picking. Over $90 billion dollars spent and nothing to show for it,” Panday said.

Though he slammed the PNM administration for crime and kidnapping statistics soaring to record highs, Panday spared no effort in attacking “infighting” among UNC party and parliamentary colleagues over the recent leadership issue. Panday said that the “disunity” was now a “thing of the past.” Citing the presence of political leader Winston Dookeran at the head table, Panday said, “There’s no disunity in this party anymore. We are going to win because we are a united and disciplined party.” Panday said that the party’s election machinery must now be placed in high gear, in anticipation of either a Local Government election, which is constitutionally due in June, or General Elections.

Dookeran, who was warmly received by the small gathering of supporters, described the meeting as the beginning of the campaign that would see a return of the UNC government. He said that poverty reduction would be the first priority for a re-elected UNC administration. Dookeran said that despite this country’s booming oil and gas industry, the average worker earned less than workers in other Caribbean islands. He pointed out that the average worker earned an annual income of US$9,000, but workers in Barbados earned US$15,000; Bahamas - US$18,000; and Aruba - US$22,000.

“How can anyone in this country accept the fact that we can have so much poor people in our land in a country as rich as this, and the prospect of they becoming poorer is greater,” Dookeran said. The political leader said that while the PNM Government continues to look to “the skies,” the Opposition UNC would continue its groundwork in the build-up to the elections campaign. Also attending the meeting were Caroni Central MP Dr Hamza Rafeeq, Deputy Political Leader Wade Mark, and UNC executive member, Dr Daphne Phillip.