THE message from prison is simple: Get rid of Winston Dookeran as Political Leader of the United National Congress (UNC).

UNC Chairman Basdeo Panday may be down but he is far from out, and reports are that he has given instructions to his party’s executive to get rid of Dookeran, by any means necessary. According to a top political and legal source, Panday is concerned that Dookeran may be able to wrestle power from the “United Labour Front faction of the UNC” and allow the “NAR faction” to control the party.

“As long as Dookeran holds on to his position as political leader, he ultimately controls the destiny of the party,” the source explained.

“The executive can do whatever it wants, but in the end it is the political leader who picks the candidates for the general election and that is where the power lies.

“The UNC executive can select whoever it wants for a constituency, but if the political leader of the party says another person is the candidate then the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has no choice but to accept the nomination from the political leader.

“That is where the true power lies; Panday is playing that card right now.

“If the People’s National Movement (PNM) tries to cash in on this new development in the politics of the UNC and Prime Minister Patrick Manning decides to call a snap election, it is Dookeran who decides who represents which constituency, not the UNC chairman or the UNC executive.”