Dookeran: Disciplinary standards for all in UNC

The same standards of discipline being used to refer Ganga Singh to the Disciplinary Committee must apply equally to everyone else in the UNC. This is the position of Political Leader Winston Dookeran. Speaking through his spokesperson, Nirad Tewarie, Dookeran said on Thursday that he had no objection to any procedure evoked as a result of the party’s constitution “so long as it applies equally to everyone.” Dookeran also stated that it must be implemented through the spirit that was intended in the constitution.

Executive Member Manohar Ramsaran stated on Thursday that he imagined that the Disciplinary Committee would have a very busy time. “I am glad that the Disciplinary Committee is being established. But we also need an institution in the party to allow members of Parliament, local government representatives, etc to discuss issues without having the fear of being penalised or rejected,” he said. Saying that the days where people are scared to speak out should come to an end, Ramsaran lamented that people did not oppose certain leaders in the party. “I want to see fair play and equity in the party because if you can’t do it in the party, you can’t do it in the country,” he said, adding it was time that the days of “one-man-ship” ended. He noted that Robin Montano spoke out and was fired for it and Roy Augustus found himself in a situation where he had to resign.

Asked if he would be silenced by the establishment of the Disciplinary Committee, Ramsaran said he did not intend to be suppressed in any way. “I am here to serve the party. I cannot go silent on important issues or when there are differing views.” Saying that there was no freedom in the party to air views, Ramsaran said when the Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj issue came up in the PNM, Keith Rowley said “if Ramesh comes, I gone.” “Had that happened in the UNC, a certain leader would have said ‘I’ll take it to the people and who don’t like it could leave.’”

Last Wednesday the UNC Executive took a decision to establish a Disciplinary Committee, appointed six members and summoned a meeting of the National Congress to select the other six members. The only matters thus far down for referral to the committee are the issue of statements made by Caroni East MP Ganga Singh and a release issued by his Constituency Executive. Singh made statements in Parliament which were viewed as a “veiled attack” on Panday. His executive subsequently supported him and called for a boycott of the Mid Centre Mall unity platform on which former AG Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj spoke.