THE absence of two of the main speakers at the United National Congress (UNC) Monday Night Forum at the East Indian Friendly Society Hall, Gasparillo earlier this week, is leading to reports of a rift now brewing in the “Cabal” of the party.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Deputy Political Leader Jack Warner stayed away from the meeting which ended abruptly, two hours after it started.

Chairman of the meeting Wade Mark apologised to the gathering after Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath’s address.

Mark said Persad-Bissessar had telephoned saying she was unable to attend. But there was no explanation why Warner also was absent, when they were both billed to appear on the platform.

Talk in UNC circles is that Persad-Bissessar feels that some of the UNC politicians at the Gasparillo meeting are not supporting her for leadership of the party and decided to distance herself from them.

Oropouche MP Dr. Roodal Moonilal, who was one of Monday’s speakers, is reportedly supporting Warner to replace Political Leader Winston Dookeran, while Ramnath is backing former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

Sources told TnT Mirror it would appear that Persad-Bissessar was also “set up” when she was made to believe that she could take over leadership of the UNC if Dookeran was kicked out.

UNC officials claim that Ramanth is talking with a “forked-tongue,” when he told supporters at the meeting to “give peace a chance,” (referring to the current unity talks between Basdeo Panday and Dookeran) but in another breath was saying if he had his way, Dookeran would have been removed a long time ago.

Reports are also circulating that Warner and UNC party vice-chairman Vasant Bharath have engaged in a war of words with Panday over his decision to put on hold the vote of no confidence in Dookeran until he holds further discussions with the Political Leader.

There are also reports that Bharath jumped on a plane on Tuesday and headed off to London to “cool his heels.”
This could not be confirmed.

However, UNC officials have remain tight-lipped and have refused to comment on this.