UNC financiers want Panday out

14.SEP.07

TRINIDAD and TOBAGO – Basdeo Panday, chairman and political leader of the United National Congress (UNC), is facing growing opposition by an influential section of the party and has been asked to step down and hand over the reins of leadership to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Express has learnt.{{more}}

“With Panday out of the way, the unity between the COP and UNC could begin in time for the general elections. Many financial backers would only support the UNC if Panday is removed as leader,” sources close to the UNC said.

One source said ripples were also being caused over the loss of prestige by senior party members of the UNC following the formation of the Alliance with several “small” political parties.

Panday was cited as one of the main driving forces for the Alliance hook-up.

Panday and Deputy Leader Jack Warner met in London last week concerning the handing-over of the party to Persad-Bissessar, but Panday has not agreed to step down, the Express was told.

Efforts to reach Panday and Warner yesterday were fruitless as several calls from the Express remained unanswered.

During the tea break in Parliament yesterday, Persad-Bissessar told the Express she had no knowledge of a plan to remove Panday.

“In a political climate anything is possible even rumours, rumours and more rumours,” she said.

She also denied having any knowledge of uneasiness over Panday by party financiers.

“I don’t know anything about that. We recently had a leadership meeting and that matter was not discussed. I don’t know that there is a vacancy for a leader,” she said.

Persad- Bissessar said the UNC Alliance was still interested in unity talks with any party that wanted to talk unity to remove the People’s National Movement from office. “We remain open to unity talks, as we had stated earlier,” she said.

This week, Panday did not attend the UNC Monday night forum in Tabaquite, where he was scheduled to give the feature address.

A party spokesperson said Panday had a digestion problem and was “not well enough” to give an address.

Asked about whether there were any plans to unite with the UNC, Congress of the People chairman Roy Augustus said: “That is a UNC talk, our business is not to unite leaders but to unite people. Unity is about people and that is our mission.” (Trinidad Express)