Axed UNC Senator wants answers

"Taken from our P O L I T I C S section.

AXED UNC Senator Caroline Seepersad-Bachan yesterday called on Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to justify the reasons why she and Sadiq Baksh were removed as Senators and why councillor Carol Cuffy-Dowlat was expelled from the party’s executive.

During a meeting of the Executive on Wednesday, acting party chairman Vasant Bharat announced the party’s decision to remove Seepersad-Bachan and Baksh as Senators and Cuffy-Dowlat as an executive member of the party.

Cuffy-Dowlat, UNC sources said, is to be replaced on the executive by Senator Jennifer Jones-Kernahan. Bharat said Seepersad-Bachan and Baksh would be replaced in time for next Tuesday’s Senate sitting.

Giving reasons for Cuffy-Dowlat’s removal, Bharat said, she had missed three consecutive executive meetings. “In accordance with Article 19, Section (C) of the party’s constitution, Carol Cuffy-Dowlat is no longer a member of the national executive congress for having missed at least three consecutive meetings without just cause,” Bharat said.

However, Seepersad-Bachan took issue with not officially being informed of the executive’s decision to remove her and the other two.

“We were at a cottage meeting with the political leader Winston Dookeran in California, when we were approached by members of the media who related that they were just coming from Rienzi Complex,” Seepersad-Bachan told Newsday.

“It was only then that we were informed (of their axing) and it came as a shock for us. What we want to know is, on what basis did they use to arrive at their decision to have us removed.”

She said consultation is needed by all arms of the party to appoint and remove Senators. “To remove a senator is parliamentary business...which belongs to the parliamentary caucus. How did the national executive get involved and were able to make such a decision?” Seepersad-Bachan asked.

She said support for Winston Dookeran must not be viewed as being anti-UNC. He is the political leader, she added. Dookeran also fell victim to the UNC executive meeting on Wednesday night with a decision being made to move a vote of no-confidence in him as political leader.

A resolution for his removal, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced, is to be put to the party’s rank and file. Cuffy-Dowlat said she found it extremely difficult to work with the executive.

“I have found it very difficult to work with the present executive in whom I have no confidence. However, I don’t understand the executive’s concept and the role they are taking by not supporting the political leader of the party,” Cuffy-Dowlat said.