By Richardson Dhalai and Clint Chan Tack Friday, August 7 2009

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Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, ...

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THE UNC national executive last night voted to send renegade Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Mayaro MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters to the party’s disciplinary committee.

UNC political leader Basdeo Panday made the announcement following the executive’s meeting at Rienzi Complex in Couva.

Panday said Maharaj and Peters have been referred to the disciplinary committee because of letters which they had written to the national executive stating why they were calling for change in the party and their absence at yesterday’s meeting to explain their actions.

Maharaj and Peters had been served notices of charges against them by acting secretary Glen Ramadharsingh which required them to respond in person before the executive.

Instead, they replied in writing and did not attend yesterday’s meeting.

However, Panday said the executive is giving the duo’s fellow renegade, Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, until next week’s meeting to explain similar action taken by him before deciding whether Warner will join Maharaj and Peters before the disciplinary committee.

Warner had also responded in writing to the notice of charges against him and warned the executive did not have any authority to take action.

He gave the executive dates on when he can appear in person, hence the decision to give him an extension. Warner is currently in Nigeria on business for FIFA, of which he is vice president.

The main charges against Warner, Maharaj and Peters relate to their decisions to vote for several government bills in the last session of Parliament. Contacted last night at a function, Peters declared: “I don’t care. They could send me wherever they want.” Warner and Maharaj are currently overseas.

Efforts to contact both men for comment on the UNC executive’s decision were unsuccessful. Maharaj has publicly vowed to do all within his power to fight any attempt to expel Warner, Peters and himself from the UNC.

The trio have been waging a bitter internal war against Panday and their other parliamentary colleagues for change in the party.

Panday also told reporters last night that plans for him to serve as surrogate MP for Chaguanas West, Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath for Tabaquite and Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Harry Partap for Mayaro were proceeding smoothly. He stated that following the party’s national congress on September 13 and a subsequent national assembly, the UNC will determine when it will hold internal executive elections.

Warner has said efforts are being made to place Maharaj, Peters and himself before the UNC’s disciplinary committee so that they will be debarred under the party’s constitution of contesting the internal polls.

Panday also announced that the party would call on Government to reconvene Parliament immediately to discuss matters of urgent national importance which include crime and the travel advisories against the country and the reports that the economy is in a recession.

Parliament is on vacation but is expected to resume early in September.