Warner / Panday in the War Room

[Dispatcher]

http://www.hotlikepepperradio.com/cms/m ... toryid=791 (http://www.hotlikepepperradio.com/cms/modules/news/article.php?storyid=791)

UNC-A ready for victory, no looking back: Panday
2007/10/10 3:30:00

Former Prime Minister and UNC Political leader Basdeo Panday said Tuesday night he is determined to remove the People's National Movement (PNM) from government to restore peace and prosperity to Trinidad and Tobago.

Panday and UNC Alliance Chairman Jack Warner were guests on WINTV's discussion and call-in show, the War Room, with Sunil Ramdeen.

Panday said personal feelings must not be in the way of his national duty.
His comment was in response to a question from a caller who wanted to know why Ramesh L. Maharaj was being embraced by the UNC-Alliance after he helped topple Panday's government in 2001.

Panday said there's no point in looking back because those who keep looking back don't move forward and eventually lose sight of their goals. In 2007, he said, the goal is to defeat the PNM in the polls and he pledged to do whatever is necessary to achieve that goal.

Earlier in the program a woman called to suggest to Jack Warner that he is being used by Panday and will be dumped when the election is over.

Warner, though visibly annoyed with the remarks, remained calm and explained why he supports Basdeo Panday.

He said Panday contributed more to Trinidad and Tobago than anyone he knows and remarked that one of the greatest problems is that our people have short memories.

He reminded the caller of the 40 years of struggle that made Panday who he is. "He took blows for this country," Warner said, without speaking directly about 'Bloody Tuesday' - Feb 18, 1975 - when Panday, George Weekes and other trade union leaders and politicians were brutalized by police and jailed for marching for workers' rights.

It was the event that saw the birth of the United Labour Front (ULF) and sent Panday to Parliament as Leader of the Opposition.

Warner said he is privileged to be associated with Panday and whatever money he has invested in the UNC and the UNC Alliance is well spent because of the wealth of knowledge it has given him.

"I want to be like him," he said. "I have no adequate words to express how I feel to be in his company."

A caller from Princes Town expressed support for Panday and the UNC-A and asked why is that people who have left the party "hate you so?"

Panday replied by touching on a point that Warner had made earlier - that Panday is the only politician in the country who has a dedicated base.
Panday said those who oppose him want to inherit that base. He explained that he didn't inherit it.

It was built, he said, through 40 years of struggle with the people in the trenches. He assured the caller and his national and international television audience that too many people "want Panday to die, to ride off into the sunset" but they will be disappointed because "I have no intention of complying with their wishes at this point in time."

Panday and Warner both explained again that there is no leadership crisis because the UNC-A is introducing a new type of democracy into the politics to get away from what Panday called "doctor politics" characterized by a single powerful party leader.

He said the present structure allows anyone elected under the UNC-A banner has the right to be leader and Prime Minister.

Commenting on Sunday's mass rally Panday said it was a vindication because it proved beyond any doubt that the UNC base is in tact and no one had made inroads into it.

And he said what was even more encouraging was the composition of the crowd with people from every part of the country.

He said it is a sign that Manning and the PNM are in trouble and that the UNC-A will win the election.

Jack Warner, who organized and executed the event, said the support went way beyond the traditional UNC base, noting that one constituency brought 110 maxis and there were 44 from Laventille.

Panday said he sees the nation as a whole and that's why he would like to see Warner as the candidate in Chaguanas West.

"We put Errol McLeod in Oropouche and Harrison in Caroni East," he said referring to the ULF campaign in 1976, when his party put Afro-Trinidadian candidates in the Indo-Trinidadian heartland.

Both Warner and Panday were confident that the UNC-A would win the election.

One caller, who said he would vote COP because its leader is a man of integrity, wanted to know why Winston Dookeran didn't lead the party.

Panday responded by saying that Dookeran was handed the leadership of the UNC and he said and when he formally became leader, "they wouldn't let him lead." The UNC Leader noted that leaders lead and that is what Dookeran should have done.

Instead, while he was the UNC leader he was raising funds and planning to launch a new party. "Is that integrity?" he asked.

Panday also had to deal with the Caroni issue. He said a UNC-A government would make the former sugar company the hub of the food industry to provide the nation with food security, which he said is vital for a nation's independence.

Asked about where the party goes from here, having mounted a successful and impressive rally to demonstrate that the base was secure, Panday said the next step is to translate it into votes.

He said there is a strategy for that, a strategy that will lead it to win the Nov. 5 general election.

[serenity]

Ok, so doh look back wrt to RLM, but is ok to look back and remem Panday in his hero days?
Riiiiiight.
At least he admitted that the UNC didnt want Dookeran to lead and so he had to leave.
So with alliance thing right, the person who wins dey seat has an opportunity to be PM. So say everybody in UNCA win dey seat, in theory, who determines which one of them will be PM?
Their obsession lies with getting the PNM out of power, but I wonder how much thought is given to what happens next.

[peanut]

Ok, so doh look back wrt to RLM, but is ok to look back and remem Panday in his hero days?
Riiiiiight.
At least he admitted that the UNC didnt want Dookeran to lead and so he had to leave.
So with alliance thing right, the person who wins dey seat has an opportunity to be PM. So say everybody in UNCA win dey seat, in theory, who determines which one of them will be PM?

The one that commands the support of the majority! :roll:

[serenity]

Pnut, thats the problem...Cadiz says that the majority had decided on Kamla as leader of the alliance. Next ting yuh know something went awry and Jack is leader. Clearly there will be bachannal after elections bec ah sure if Meighoo win he seat he go try to be PM. :roll:And ah wonder if Kamla will keep quiet then too. Doh talk fuh Jack! Sorry eh, this sounding like real tata.

[cm103]

Ok, so doh look back wrt to RLM, but is ok to look back and remem Panday in his hero days?
Riiiiiight.
At least he admitted that the UNC didnt want Dookeran to lead and so he had to leave.
So with alliance thing right, the person who wins dey seat has an opportunity to be PM. So say everybody in UNCA win dey seat, in theory, who determines which one of them will be PM?
Their obsession lies with getting the PNM out of power, but I wonder how much thought is given to what happens next.

Yuh beat me to it yes...

People in Trinidad have short minds in truth. Nobody remembers how Kamla gt shaft for any internal party elections when Panday always went against her. How he treat Dooks when he was in the UNC and wanted him to be a paper leader and how he would regain power no matter what.

Ent Cadiz say Panday tell him to his face that he doesn't want to be PM again? He just dodging the question now so that Jack ent go get vex and pack up he marbles.

Meighoo playing with fire there but he pee ent make froth in the political arena.

[Dispatcher]

Ok, so doh look back wrt to RLM, but is ok to look back and remem Panday in his hero days?
Riiiiiight.

Maybe because its 2 different things being spoken about. Ramesh coming back to the fold is like the prodigal son returning to the family owning up to the issues of the past and trying to move forward for the betterment of the (family) Party. If within the family you keep harking back to past sore wounds you will never achieve togetherness.

Jack outlining the reasons why he admires Panday is a different kettle of fish. He must describe what are the traits and accomplishments to justify why.

[Dispatcher]

Pnut, thats the problem...Cadiz says that the majority had decided on Kamla as leader of the alliance. Next ting yuh know something went awry and Jack is leader. Clearly there will be bachannal after elections bec ah sure if Meighoo win he seat he go try to be PM. :roll:And ah wonder if Kamla will keep quiet then too. Doh talk fuh Jack! Sorry eh, this sounding like real tata.

Were you at the meetings? Cadiz with his sour grapes. But he still sticking close to the UNCA. All the UNCA leaders onpenly said they elected Jack as the leader (chairman). Who you believe each individual leader or Cadiz.

Like you seem to have a problem with Jack!

If Meighoo can command the majority of support from the mebers in the parliament then he could be PM. At this stage it could be anyone.

But what if COP win. Who will be the PM? Because Dookeran sure ain't winning St. Augustine.

[cm103]

Pnut, thats the problem...Cadiz says that the majority had decided on Kamla as leader of the alliance. Next ting yuh know something went awry and Jack is leader. Clearly there will be bachannal after elections bec ah sure if Meighoo win he seat he go try to be PM. :roll:And ah wonder if Kamla will keep quiet then too. Doh talk fuh Jack! Sorry eh, this sounding like real tata.

Were you at the meetings? Cadiz with his sour grapes. But he still sticking close to the UNCA. All the UNCA leaders onpenly said they elected Jack as the leader (chairman). Who you believe each individual leader or Cadiz.

Like you seem to have a problem with Jack!

If Meighoo can command the majority of support from the mebers in the parliament then he could be PM. At this stage it could be anyone.

But what if COP win. Who will be the PM? Because Dookeran sure ain't winning St. Augustine.

I wouldn't put too much trust in a Basdeo Panday installed UNC executive. I would go so far as say that they are Panday's puppets and would say what they want. What do you think would be Cadiz's gain to blow the whistle now? Nobody else mentioned anything about him throwing his hat in the ring for leader.

I was vex at the obvious sidelining of Kamla (for the umpteenth time) but now she really should know better. If Cadiz don't want to be a part of them games then why it must be sour grapes?

[Dispatcher]

People in Trinidad have short minds in truth. Nobody remembers how Kamla gt shaft for any internal party elections when Panday always went against her. How he treat Dooks when he was in the UNC and wanted him to be a paper leader and how he would regain power no matter what.


Hold on when Kamla get shaft by Panday? By Recommending Dookeran to be leader is that shafting Kamla? COP supporters who think Dooks is the best thing since slice bread. It was a sensible choice at the time. But Dooks proved many people right in his inablity to lead and his attempt to carry out an internal coup within the party.

That is why there came a time when some in the executive felt it was time to put some spokes in Dookeran's wheels.

When else did Kamla get the shaft? When Ramesh was put as AG? Well Ramesh was always allocated for that job. Kamla held the position until Ramesh was able to clear his private business.

When else? With the UNCA leadership? Well if a council select someone by majority that is a democratic process. Its not being shafted.

In the party election Kamla was on the slate supported by Panday and was selected as Deputed politcal leader became Leader of the opposition. I don't see that as being shafted.


Ent Cadiz say Panday tell him to his face that he doesn't want to be PM again? He just dodging the question now so that Jack ent go get vex and pack up he marbles.

Maybe he changed his mind. Maybe he still does not want to PM. Jack is the leader. We do not know who will command the majority support in the house should they win.

[Dispatcher]

Pnut, thats the problem...Cadiz says that the majority had decided on Kamla as leader of the alliance. Next ting yuh know something went awry and Jack is leader. Clearly there will be bachannal after elections bec ah sure if Meighoo win he seat he go try to be PM. :roll:And ah wonder if Kamla will keep quiet then too. Doh talk fuh Jack! Sorry eh, this sounding like real tata.

Were you at the meetings? Cadiz with his sour grapes. But he still sticking close to the UNCA. All the UNCA leaders onpenly said they elected Jack as the leader (chairman). Who you believe each individual leader or Cadiz.

Like you seem to have a problem with Jack!

If Meighoo can command the majority of support from the mebers in the parliament then he could be PM. At this stage it could be anyone.

But what if COP win. Who will be the PM? Because Dookeran sure ain't winning St. Augustine.

I wouldn't put too much trust in a Basdeo Panday installed UNC executive. I would go so far as say that they are Panday's puppets and would say what they want. What do you think would be Cadiz's gain to blow the whistle now? Nobody else mentioned anything about him throwing his hat in the ring for leader.

I was vex at the obvious sidelining of Kamla (for the umpteenth time) but now she really should know better. If Cadiz don't want to be a part of them games then why it must be sour grapes?

You seem to holding on to the wrong end of the stick. It was the UNCA council that chose the Leader of the alliance not the UNC Executive. The UNCA council are made up of leaders from many different organisations. They are not puppets of Panday. He did not install them.

They sat down as a team to decide which persons would be the best front for the Alliance leaders. Jack came out in front for whatever reasons. Could be to show diversity and fortitude to present an Afro Trinidadian as leader of what is perceived as an Indo based party and hence attact support from non-traditional areas. His achievements are there for everyone to see. Kamla was said to be a frontrunner by the press but in decision making positions change as all the pros and cons are weighed.

Kamla may appear to be sidelined but the leaders felt the decision was what was best to go into the campaign. Kamla always going around saying she only have one leader and that is Panday. That is the woman's wish. She get the wish.

Who are you to say she's been sidelined?

[cm103]

Dookeran was made a paper leader and undermined by Panday at every turn. Why couldn't he enjoy the same power and rights that Panday did without interference? Did Kamla fake disappointment and tears last week? I thought the Exective was supporting her until Jack say he wanted it and Panday back him? Something fishy went on there with that whole process and I'm sure if you dig deeper its not unlike what Manning did with his 'screening' committee.

That UNC always have some bacchanal involved internally and usually its one man in the middle of it. I stain my finger for them since they contesting elections but I tired of the tomfoolery and the same old tricks of RLM coming back to 'save' the party and remind all the nostalgic voters of better days. I enjoyed Panday' tenure as PM mostly but his time has passed and his integrity and actions speak for themselves now.

I'm sure you as a reasonable person would expect no less than Panday getting the PM position again should the UNC win the election. How would that work with him currently being retried for corruption? I also thought it was the people who voted for a PM by electing the party in power and then their political leader assumes that position. The way they are doing it is basically screening the people from who it could be and saving that internal power struggle for later. If the UNC does win we'll probably be back at the polls within a year.

[cm103]

You seem to holding on to the wrong end of the stick. It was the UNCA council that chose the Leader of the alliance not the UNC Executive. The UNCA council are made up of leaders from many different organisations. They are not puppets of Panday. He did not install them.

They sat down as a team to decide which persons would be the best front for the Alliance leaders. Jack came out in front for whatever reasons. Could be to show diversity and fortitude to present an Afro Trinidadian as leader of what is perceived as an Indo based party and hence attact support from non-traditional areas. His achievements are there for everyone to see. Kamla was said to be a frontrunner by the press but in decision making positions change as all the pros and cons are weighed.

Kamla may appear to be sidelined but the leaders felt the decision was what was best to go into the campaign. Kamla always going around saying she only have one leader and that is Panday. That is the woman's wish. She get the wish.

Who are you to say she's been sidelined?


I stand corrected sir. Thank you for clearing up my mistaken between the Executive and council.

The reason I put no trust or support on the alliance council is because they were all united with Panday based on whatever he told them to get them to come aboard. Without him none of them have a political future. How many votes you think the alliance members really brought to the table? Would they have any kind of chance on their own in the political arena? Who amongst them actually thinks that Panday and Jack would attract more support than say Kamla and Jack? I think it was more of removing the obstacles to bring back the old trick of RLM coming back to 'unite' and 'rescue' the party.

[JediKnight]

But didn't they tell Dookeran to go? Well that's what he did. At least when he left, he didn't bring down the Government. Now that Ramesh is back, can you gurantee if the UNC-A wins the election, Ramesh will not take his seat to the PNM again? I suppose that when Dookeran left the party he could not lead. Why did Ramesh leave the party in 2001? And he had controlled the majority of the executive, unlike Dookeran. And poor Moonilal. Ah sure Ramesh remember when there was the fall out, the lil boy jump on Panday bandwagon and tell Ramesh to go. Imagine the nerve of that lil pipsqueak. I noticed on Sunday who was next to Panday... Whey yuh dey now Roodlal? And after years of loyal service, Ramesh ups and back on the scene and all of ah sudden he on the leadership council. Has Kamla accepted head of the women's arm, and if not why isn't there a rep. from the women's arm on de council?

[gaia]

But didn't they tell Dookeran to go? Well that's what he did. At least when he left, he didn't bring down the Government. Now that Ramesh is back, can you gurantee if the UNC-A wins the election, Ramesh will not take his seat to the PNM again? I suppose that when Dookeran left the party he could not lead. Why did Ramesh leave the party in 2001? And he had controlled the majority of the executive, unlike Dookeran. And poor Moonilal. Ah sure Ramesh remember when there was the fall out, the lil boy jump on Panday bandwagon and tell Ramesh to go. Imagine the nerve of that lil pipsqueak. I noticed on Sunday who was next to Panday... Whey yuh dey now Roodlal? And after years of loyal service, Ramesh ups and back on the scene and all of ah sudden he on the leadership council. Has Kamla accepted head of the women's arm, and if not why isn't there a rep. from the women's arm on de council?JediKnight


IT ALL SOUNDS LIKE A CHEAP SOAP OPERA AND NOT WHAT IT REALLY IS: SERIOUS BUSINESS!!!

[Dispatcher]

I stand corrected sir. Thank you for clearing up my mistaken between the Executive and council.
NP


The reason I put no trust or support on the alliance council is because they were all united with Panday based on whatever he told them to get them to come aboard. Without him none of them have a political future.

That is where you are are not seeing the forest from the tree. You admit that without Panday none of them have a future. Yet all I'm hearing from COP is that Panday have to go. If it wasn't for Panday Dookeran would have been a non-entity today. He lost his seat in 1991. Panday brought him back in '95 by giving him the Central Bank governor job. He brought him back in politics by in 2001.He handed over the leadership of the UNC to him.

Dookeran leaving/no confidence was Dookeran's own making. He had an opportunity to lead but blew it.


How many votes you think the alliance members really brought to the table? Would they have any kind of chance on their own in the political arena?

The alliance parties are not bringing many votes to the UNC. Which again shows that Panday in the hope of uniting the country is willing to give practical non-entities an opportunity to be involved in the national politics.


Who amongst them actually thinks that Panday and Jack would attract more support than say Kamla and Jack?

I can't say. I would have preferred Kamla & Jack. But apparently the council members voted Jack and Panday.


I think it was more of removing the obstacles to bring back the old trick of RLM coming back to 'unite' and 'rescue' the party.

You think Kamla could have stopped RLM from coming back? I think not.