Yetming: Dookeran should go

Yetming also said the “cabal” which exists in the UNC is similar to one which exists in the newly-formed Democratic National Assembly and this was why the Democratic National Alliance (which he is now aligned with) will not form a political alliance with the Assembly.

A no-confidence motion against Dookeran was filed at the national executive’s regular weekly meeting at Rienzi Complex in Couva last Wednesday and Dookeran has vowed to resist any attempt to remove him as UNC political leader. Also last week, Sadiq Baksh and Carolyn Seepersad Bachan were removed as Opposition Senators and Carol Cuffie-Dowlat was fired as UNC women’s officer.

Speaking with Newsday Friday, Yetming said he was not surprised by the UNC executive’s actions and it was clear that the party is now being “run by a cabal led by a financier.” In light of the executive’s latest move to remove Dookeran, Yetming said the embattled UNC leader has only three options. Those were to retire from politics, form his own party or align himself with another political movement.

Yetming said the executive has already signalled its intent to take the no-confidence motion to all arms of the party and even call a national congress to determine whether or not to expel Dookeran from the party. Yetming added that any national congress called by the party is certain to agree with the executive and expel Dookeran from the UNC.

The St Joseph MP said he believed that Dookeran would be able to draw support from the electorate if he chose to form his own party and there were third force political elements who were willing to join him.

Yetming added that the cabal in the UNC is similar to one in the Democratic National Assembly and this was why the Democratic National Alliance (consisting of the NAR and the DPTT) has ended alliance discussions with the Assembly. Last week, the Assembly issued a release saying that it had broken off political talks with the Alliance because of the latter’s “unprincipled actions” which were contrary to the spirit of open and honest negotiations.

Yetming said the Alliance will continue to explore ways to unite with other groups in order to create a viable third political force to face the PNM and the UNC in next year’s general elections.