By RICHARDSON DHALAI Monday, November 30 2009

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NOT GOING ANYWHERE: UNC Political Leader, Basdeo Panday, addressing his supporters at yesterday's UNC Special National Assembly at Rienzi Complex, Cou...

CITING the example of legendary trade unionist Adrian Cola Rienzi, UNC political leader Basdeo Panday yesterday pledged before hundreds of supporters the proverbial phrase, “I will die with my boots on.”

In an impassioned speech to the party’s special National Assembly at Rienzi Complex, Couva, the 76-year-old Panday announced that he would be the leader to take the UNC back into Government.

And in the presence of renegade Mayaro MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters, reinstated national executive member, Sylvester Ramquar, Panday announced that those who wanted to destroy the party would “have to destroy me first.”

Peters and Ramquar have aligned themselves to the Jack Warner/Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj “Movement for Change” faction in the UNC, which have openly called for Panday to relinquish the party’s leadership.

Yesterday, Peters and Ramquar were seated in third row from the stage in the complex car park where Panday addressed the crowd in a packed hall.

The Opposition leader, seeming to look in their direction, thundered, “I now serve notice on all those who want to destroy the UNC that on January 24, 2010, I shall be contesting the post of political leader of the party for two reasons.

One reason is that so many of my enemies want me to go. The mere fact that they are so anxious that I must go is the very reason I must stay. They believe if I am not around they can manipulate this great party. They want to deal with weaklings, not strong men and women,” Panday said.

The second reason, Panday explained, was the manner in which Rienzi departed the labour movement. He had left without giving a reason.

Panday said, “He waged relentless battles for the labour movement. Then something happened which shocked everyone. He gave up the struggle and accepted a job as Crown Counsel with the colonial government of the day. No one knows why, but it is the only blot on the struggle of this man. I do not intend to suffer the same fate.”

Then to tremendous applause, Panday said, “I am not going anywhere.”

Panday told the crowd, estimated at just over 1,000 persons, that his slate would consist of persons who were “disciplined”, and who would not “run to the media” and not “steal the party’s money.”

“My brothers and sisters, give me a disciplined team of officers, and I promise you, I shall give you the government,” Panday said.

Panday once again launched a broadside against deputy political leader, Jack Warner, saying that the Ramjack faction was formed after the party requested an accounting of monies donated to the party for the 2007 General Election campaign.

He said this was the real reason behind their call for him to step down from the party’s leadership, saying, “They know that to hijack this party, they will have to pass me out first.”

Meanwhile, in her contribution, Siparia MP and deputy political leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, steered clear of the leadership battle except to say that the time had come to “put aside personal agendas for the good of the party, and the country.”

She said that the only way to save Trinidad and Tobago from economic and environmental disasters, was by removing the Patrick Manning led administration. “In this pursuit, I am happy to be part of the process whereby we can engage in frank and meaningful discussion, putting aside all personal agenda and supporting only that which is good for the party and the country,” Persad-Bissessar said.

The assembly unanimously adopted a resolution for the internal election to be held on January 24, 2010.