UNC cheers KamlaBy SEAN DOUGLAS Monday, October 26 2009
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The crowd comprising the UNC National Executive....
Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar was loudly cheered by UNC delegates when a party member, reportedly named Abdul, proposed that UNC leader Basdeo Panday step down in favour of Persad-Bissessar leading the party into the next general elections.
The UNC’s periodic meeting of delegates, known as its National Congress, yesterday at Rienzi Complex agreed with a resolution by the UNC National Executive to hold party elections on January 24, 2010. They also called for the UNC National Assembly to meet on Sunday November 29 to discuss these elections.
When questioned by reporters on the show of support, Persad-Bissessar was coy.
She said, “Well, that is the view of one member, here today. It is certainly not the view of everyone here. I think that this is a democracy. Whatever needs to be done will be done with the votes of the people.”
A reporter asked, if Mr Panday decided to step down, would she contest the leadership? She replied, “I will have to speak to my constituents. I am a representative of my constituents and before any decision is made I will have to speak with them. So far my constituents have not advised me otherwise.”
Panday reacted to the man’s call by saying of the UNC elections, “Well, this will be his opportunity to say so, when the elections come.” Asked about the man’s call for the publication of the UNC membership list ahead of party polls, Panday said, “No political party makes its membership list public. Members may come and inspect them, but no political party makes a membership list public, having regard to the nature of this society that is so prone to victimisation of people in the Opposition.”
He declined to comment on the reported dropping of charges against the party’s RamJack faction, saying he had not yet received a report on the matter which had not yet been sent to the UNC National Executive. “When the Executive sees it, they’ll have to examine it...”.
Panday, in his speech sent mixed signals in having to address the issue of the COP and the Ramjack faction. He said those most vociferous in attacking the UNC were those who have received so much and done so little. He hailed members for showing that the UNC is not for sale, nor would it tolerate undisciplined conduct.
“This party must not become a haven for international con-men or an avenue for money-laundering, nor must it be a vehicle for those who have made it a career of betraying this party to its opponents. It must not be a place for self-seekers...”
He said the party was at peace, saying it is no longer plagued with internal controversy. “Now that the bickering is over and peace has returned to the UNC, we must first of all embark upon a massive mobilisation of the party.”
Panday, welcoming COP officials, Robert Mayers and Tim Hamel-Smith, said he had written his speech on Saturday night, before hearing Mayers speech earlier yesterday, where Mayers spoke of a need to come together to find a platform of common interests, consensus and common ground.
Panday said it was rude for another party to insist that a party leader kill himself before agreeing to even sit down to discuss unity. “Such persons cannot be serious about unity. It behooves us therefore to look for another form of unity...”
In a rousing finale, he rallied delegates, shouting, “I am ready for battle. Are you ready?” They in return shouted, “Yes!”.
He vowed to re-work the format of the Monday Night Meeting, which is being re-launched tonight at the Aranjuez Community Centre.
Panday later told reporters, “I’m glad to hear Mr Mayers say unity is crucial and critical, but at the same time I had to mention that there are persons within the COP who say the leader of the UNC must die before they have unity. It didn’t make much difference because we have to wait and see whether the unity process moves forward or it remains stagnant as it has been for so long.”
Panday stood by his claims that the UNC was at peace, by saying, “That’s right...I haven’t heard of anything lately. I don’t know what will happen and can’t read the future but there is no dissension in the party at the moment, as far as I’m aware.”
Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner and Tabaquite MP Ramesh Maharaj did not attend.
