LEADER
of the United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo Panday is adamant
that while he has no desire to be Prime Minister for a third
time, he has no intention of giving up.
Panday who was addressing the issue of the UNC Alliance and
the leadership of party said that leaders will have to work
for their leadership, if they are determine to lead.
The political leader was speaking to a crowd in Arima on Monday
night when he said that he would remain with the UNC as long
as there is life in his body.
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Decked in his red beret, he reminisced of how he had laboured
for 40 years, 30 of those as MP for Couva North.
He said: “And even while I say so I also say that I have
no desire to be Prime Minister for a third time, nor do I have
any desire to lead the Opposition for another 20 years.
“I do not need office to serve the people.“All I need
is the red beret of struggle. I have no intention.”
He cautioned that the only way he would leave is when he is instructed
by the people of Couva North to do so.
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“When I hear those who could not win a seat in Parliament
without Panday say Panday must go, I say truly it has been said,
hell hath no fury like a politician scorned,” he said to much
applause.
“Who the hell are they to tell me I must go … so that
they can assume power. Who stopping them?”
Panday reminded the party faithful that he is the only leader to
have beaten the People’s National Movement (PNM) three times.
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He said: “Let me say it here and now for all to hear.“Many
of those whom we have anointed have betrayed our people.
“I have no intention of anointing anyone again, besides
I have anointed so many of them I run out of oil.”
Speaking on the issue of a UNC/Congress of the People (COP) Alliance,
Panday say said after much public offers made to Winston Dookeran
and his members it seems as though the newly formed party is not
interested in uniting.
“We knew the people wanted unity of the opposition forces.
“In order to do so we began by inviting every single political
organisation in opposition to the PNM.
“Every one responded except the COP.”
Panday said he believed that Dookeran’s trip to China was
a way for his financiers to get him out of the spotlight and away
from the UNC.
However, still hopeful, he said: “It is for that reason
that we must leave the door open to those who even at this late
stage have not entered this unity called the UNC Alliance.”
Panday said to demonstrate his seriousness for unity he tried
tirelessly to contact Dookeran who was in the country at the time,
but that he never got an answer.
Panday said he even emailed Dookeran, asking him to join the leadership
council but is yet to get a response.
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