Is peace at hand in the UNC?

The United National Congress executive agreed Wednesday to hear the concerns of MPs Jack Warner and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj on April 15 and begin the process of healing the rift in the party.

Party executives and MPs met for two hours at Rienzi Complex, Couva to confront the problems that have threatened to fracture the party. At the end, Warner told reporters he was pleased with the manner in which the UNC vice-chairman, St Augustine MP Vasant Bharath, chaired the meeting. He said members were able to speak freely and frankly.

He attributed the openness to the absence of UNC chairman and political leader, Basdeo Panday. "There is a kind of fear that pervades the meetings when he's there," said Warner. And he said it is not fair to Panday for members to withhold the truth from him.

The Chaguanas West MP also dropped his plan to attack his colleague, Kamla Persad-Bissessar. "I had come to this meeting to go after Kamla, and I ended by saying Kamla is a mother, she's a sister, she's a daughter. I would have nothing to gain by going after Kamla," Warner told the media.

Persad-Bissessar angered Warner with her speech Sunday to the UNC's women's arms and openly attacked Warner and Maharaj for their demands for immediate change in the party, including elections for a new national executive.

Warner reiterated his call for internal elections, which remains one of the most contentious issues. The party has made it clear that it won't hold the vote until after the local government election.

Warner also made it clear again that he has no quarrel with Panday. "If Mr Panday is voted as political leader, I shall be his follower, but give the people a right to vote and to choose", he said.

Persad-Bissessar described the meeting as democratic and added, "Mr Warner had said he will deal with me, and Mr Warner came to the meeting and did deal with me and indicated he had nothing to say".