Addressing the gathering before Panday, Dookeran sounded more like
an evangelical preacher than a politician when he described the
party’s “problems and tribulations” as part of
a “growth process”.
He promised that the party would “put things in place (that
would) excite the nation” and “deal with ordinary problems”
by bringing “knowledge” and “an intelligent approach”
to government.
While Dookeran did touch on the plight of rice farmers with the
closure of National Flour Mills’ (NFM) rice mill and government’s
failure to implement the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA),
his contribution seemed more like a pep-talk than a political speech.
Party Chairman, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday was more to the
point, stressing the need for unity as the party prepared for upcoming
local government and general elections.
He warned, however, that unity must be tempered by discipline: “There
must be unity at all costs, but not at any price,” he said.
In further explaining his position on unity within the party, Panday
advised the party’s membership against “running to the
Press” every time there is a problem within the party.
Panday further stressed that “there is machinery within the
party” to deal with internal party problems.
In commenting on the recent problems experienced by the party after
the internal party elections, Panday said: “I have always
told you that one must lead a people from where they are, not from
where they ought to have been.
“I may have violated my own rule by putting into the party’s
constitution, that the leaders of this party must be elected, not
by any delegate or any cabal, but by the rank and file of the membership
of the party.”
Panday continued: “Maybe I thought that all of our people
were more democratically oriented than they apparently were.”
Panday said the move “had its consequences”, and he
noted that much damage had been done, but added hopefully that it
was “all over now”, and urged party members to “move
swiftly to repair the damage”.
He also accused the People’s National Movement (PNM) of contributing
to the image of the UNC as a divided party, but he stressed that
the party’s rank and file was never divided on the issue of
who was to lead the party: “I have always believed that the
rank and file were never divided before, during, and after the internal
party elections.”
He recommended the “greatest expressions of unity among the
leadership of the UNC” as the antidote to “end the anxiety
and restore confidence among UNC supporters”.
He also reminded of the impending local government elections due
in July, and warned that Prime Minister Patrick Manning may use
that to “test the waters” for a general election, or
he may simply call a general election if he figures he will lose
the local elections.
“That is why we must unite to prepare to return to government
in order to save the country from the mess the PNM has made of it.”
|
