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Panday seen as a winner

Jan 25, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,

The findings of the latest tracking poll by NACTA in Trinidad show opposition leader Basdeo Panday is not a loser as he battles to hold on to leadership of the UNC he founded 20 years ago.

One of his challengers, Kamla Persad Bissessar, for his position called Panday “a loser”. But Panday is seen as a legend similar to how the late Cheddi Jagan is viewed in Guyana. Panday’s traditional supporters describe him as the best Prime Minister T&T ever produced and they wish if he can make a comeback.

The political deck is stacked against Panday facing a tough battle to survive as leader of the UNC in the internal elections because supporters of another party have attempted to make membership to vote out Panday and replace him with Bissessar.

Panday’s supporters describe him as “a winner” pointing out that after a ruling alliance expelled Panday in 1988, he formed the UNC and turned it into a winner.

They say Bissessar was silent when the alliance removed Panday and they feel another effort is under way to remove Panday from his own party through Bissessar.

The UNC loyalists note that Panday “won” in 1995 and 2000 and he was “cheated” of office in 2001 because of bad advice from Kamla and others around him to sign an accord giving up his right to remain as Prime Minister in a tied election of 2001.

They also note that Panday came from behind “to win” the opposition in 1991 and 2007. They say Kamla is a loser pointing that under Kamla’s watch, the UNC lost a seat in Kamla’s backyard to the PNM.

They note that Kamla continuously praised Panday as “best leader” and attacked others for critiquing Panday. They also say Kamla encouraged Panday to get rid of his critics (like Jack Warner and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj) who were calling for change and reforming the UNC.

It is hypocritical for Kamla to now condemn Panday when she had opportunities to show leadership to stop the hemorrhaging in political support for UNC.

Asked if they agree with Kamla’s description of Panday as being a loser, 71% said no with only 21% saying yes. Panday’s supporters felt Kamla should not have praised him for so many years if she felt “he was a loser”.

According to the poll’s findings, Panday has the edge to win the internal election because UNC loyalists view him as the strongest leader to fight the PNM.

Loyalist members feel Kamla is too weak against the PNM and that she has no track record of building the party or mobilizing the base to win an election.

However, Kamla is way ahead among members from another party entitled to vote giving her an overall lead in what is turning out to be a competitive election. Many dual members say they are not certain their names will remain on the voters’ list which could stymie their plan to vote out Panday. If their names are excised from the list, Kamla will suffer a humiliating defeat.

The campaign for leadership has taken on a nasty tone with deep animosity and resentment that the candidates express of one another. The party could well find itself in tatters beyond repair when the voting is finished.

Vishnu Bisram

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