‘Jumbie’ blights UNC in Senate

AN air of foreboding prevails over the Senate following the death of United National Congress (UNC) Senator Dr. Shastri Moonan last Friday.

Some senators are saying that the chair on which Dr. Moonan sat appears to have a “jumbie” which was blighting it, as over the past three years, two UNC Senators have died and one resigned earlier this year.

Panman Arnim Smith had occupied that chair in the Senate until he died in November 2003.

Following his death, the UNC appointed Roy Augustus as a senator and he also occupied the jumbie seat left vacant by Smith.

In February this year, Augustus resigned from the Senate.

When Dr. Moonan was appointed a UNC senator in July, he also occupied the same chair where both Smith and Augustus previously sat, sources in the Senate said.

Superstitious believers claim that death is haunting that chair in the Senate and are wondering who would be the next UNC senator to take up that seat.

Sources close to the UNC said a number of people are being approached to replace 61-year-old Dr. Moonan, but they have turned down the offer in light of the wrangling that was going on in the party before Political Leader Winston Dookeran broke ranks and last Sunday announced the formation of a new party -- Congress of the People.

The UNC is again facing a problem similar to when the party was looking for a replacement for Sadiq Baksh who was fired for his public support of estranged leader Dookeran.