UNC falls apart

The United National Congress remains hopelessly divided, as the  Executive meets at 10.30 today at Rienzi Complex to discuss a call by Political Leader Winston Dookeran to cancel next Sunday’s Grand Rally at Mid-Centre Mall. Yesterday Dookeran dispatched a letter to Opposition Leader and party Chairman Basdeo Panday expressing his deep concern that Robin Montano was dismissed from the Senate by Panday; and that the party was sponsoring a mass political rally to announce Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj’s re-entry into the UNC. Dookeran, who called for the cancellation of this meeting said he was doing so “in order to ensure stability within the UNC.” However, the UNC is anything but stable at this point.

Contrary to Dookeran’s statements that he had nothing to do with the Mid-Centre Mall meeting, Panday told Sunday Newsday that the meeting was “an Executive decision and Mr Dookeran is a member of the Executive.” Panday added that only the Executive (which he, Panday controls by a comfortable majority) could revoke its own decision. One thing is certain, next Sunday’s meeting, if it comes off,  holds the potential to determine which one of the aspirants will emerge as the undisputed power broker and the real and effective political leader within the UNC. Panday told Sunday Newsday that he expected the rank and file to throng to Mid-Centre Mall “in their thousands” next Sunday. Told that the meeting would be a critical “make or break” point in the struggle within the party, Panday said he did not know what “their” struggle was.” What do they want? They want me to give up the Opposition Leader position?

I have told them that is a matter for the MPs to decide, according to the Constitution,” he said. Asked whether the party was falling apart, Panday said no. Some people wanted unity while others didn’t. He added that the party would weather this storm because of the rank and file, not the leaders. Asked who was the “devil,” Panday said he didn’t know and suggested that perhaps Ganga Singh, who spoke about the devil in the Parliament, might have some idea. Panday recalled that he spoke of the devil once — in response to a question about his decision to realign himself with ANR Robinson in 1995. He replied he was at the time explaining that the most important thing was beating the PNM. Panday, however, did not recall ever referring to Maharaj as the devil. “And if I did, it would have been because of anger,” he added.

He said those opposing unity could sleep with whomsoever they wanted, but the rank and file will determine the direction and fate of the party. Panday said he did not see how Maharaj’s re-entry into the party threatened Dookeran’s position as Political Leader as was being alleged. “Mr Dookeran does not suffer from an inferiority complex, and he is not afraid of people who have ideas, so I think that they are underestimating him,” Panday said. On the Montano issue,  Panday indicated that he did not fire anyone from the Senate. He was merely exercising the option to appoint someone else and to bring a different point of view, he added.

He recalled that he had stated from the beginning that he would review appointments to the Senate as and when required. “And I may do it again,” he said. Asked whether the appointment of Senator Carolyn Seepersad Bachan was going to be revoked this Tuesday, Panday cautioned Sunday Newsday against listening to “rumours.” In his statement, Dookeran said Montano had been one of the most outspoken and effective Senators and he saw no reason for his removal from the Upper House. “Over the last 24 hours I have been consulting with party members at all levels. I share their dismay over Montano’s dismissal,” he said.

Suggesting that Montano was fired for speaking against Maharaj’s return, Dookeran said the UNC had always distinguished itself from other political vehicles by allowing the freedom of speech and expression within its ranks. “It is now  perceived that to speak freely is to incur the wrath of the party. This perception is certain to undermine the confidence the members have placed in the leadership and we must not allow this perception to become a reality,” he said. Yesterday Senator Sadiq Baksh, whose face is prominently featured in a UNC ad as one of the speakers in next Sunday’s meeting expressed shock that his picture was there. Baksh who is party organiser said his views were well known in the party about the meeting and about Maharaj’s re-entry. He is reported to have told the Executive that he would be no part of that. “I have never slept with the devil...and I do not plan to sleep with the devil now that I know who he is,” Baksh said yesterday.

He said the UNC had a “big problem.” “The legitimate chain of authority was being broken and the Political Leader was having his position compromised by the actions of the Chairman,” Baksh stated. Chief Whip Ganga Singh, when asked if he was attacking Panday directly in Parliament, when he referred to those sleeping with the devil, said, “The thing speaks for itself.” Asked whether he would  attend next Sunday’s meeting, Singh said only “God will determine that...When I say my prayers (I will know),” he said. He added that he planned to meet his constituency Executive tomorrow to decide whether his constituency should be mobilised to attend the meeting.

However, Chandresh Sharma and Harry Partap said they were busy mobilising their constituents for the meeting. They said people were “excited”  by what was taking place in the party. “They have no objection to Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj coming back. Nariva has been saying so (that he should return) for a long time and that what happened in the past is water under the bridge,” Partap stated. Sharma said he would be present next Sunday “lock, stock and barrel.” “I will be accompanied by thousands of people from the constituencies of Fzybad, La Brea and Point Fortin. Sunday is the first hope. And people want hope. And Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj is part of that hope. And others will follow him and return,” he said. Hamza Rafeeq stated that he would be present at Mid-Centre Mall and that he was mobilising his constituency. But when asked whether he was supporting the return of Maharaj, he said, “I am not getting into that. I am not answering that.”