Panday for UNC congress

The congress, which is only open to party members and delegates, is scheduled to take place at the Couva (South) constituency auditorium on Campden Road, from 1 pm. The UNC has been beset with an ever-widening split between two factions — one loyal to Political Leader Winston Dookeran and the other supporting Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Panday, who is a former party chairman has called for rallying of the troops warning both sides of the UNC political divide that the only way to unseat the ruling PNM was to be a single, united force.

UNC executive member Vasant Bharat, speaking with reporters after Wednesday’s executive meeting, said both Panday and Dookeran held lengthy discussions the night before. “They discussed several issues with regard to the party, particularly the issue of obviously uniting the forces to confront the PNM as one united force,” Bharat said.

He hinted that the Panday-Dookeran meetings would continue. Panday, he said, is expected to discuss the outcoming of his dealings, at Sunday’s congress which will have as its agenda a number of motions including the proposed vote of no-confidence in Dookeran being discussed.

“The other one being that the party would not accept Mr Panday’s resignation which we have said would go to all organs and arms of the party,” Bharat said.

Meanwhile, a source within the Dookeran camp said yesterday that the political leader had placed his cards on the table — that the issue of leadership has to be sorted out before any meaningful discussions take place.