Warner, Maharaj to face 'inquisition' by UNC

A big showdown is looming in the ranks of the official opposition in Trinidad & Tobago with two of the party's MPs facing a disciplinary hearing Wednesday.

The national executive (Natex) of the United National Congress (UNC) and the full parliamentary and regional caucuses will meet at the UNC's Rienzi headquarters in Couva to consider charges against the party's deputy leader Jack Warner and Tabaquite MP Ramesh L. Maharaj.

The charges are:

• the continued flouting of and disregard for the constitution, rules and directives of the Party that the internal affairs of the Party ought not to be discussed publicly and/or in public so as to bring the Party into hatred, ridicule and contempt but instead should be raised internally in the organs of the Party within the confines of the Party
• inciting violence against Party members at the Party’s National Congress held at the Rienzi Complex on Sunday, March 22, 2009
• threat of further demonstration/disruptions at UNC meetings

The meeting would recommend to Natex what further action it should take against Warner and Maharaj. It is almost a given that the party will move to expel both of them. However, such action cannot come until a disciplinary committee meets and considers the charges. It would then make a recommendation, which must be approved by a special congress of the party.

On Tuesday night Warner and Maharaj will defy the party and continue their series of meetings, which have offended the party. Sources close to Warner have said he will take the opportunity at St. Helena in central Trinidad to pre-empt Wednesday's 'inquisition' by outlining the charges and presenting a defence to show that he and his colleague have only been clamouring for change in response to the wishes of the party's membership.

UNC leader Basdeo Panday is angry with both men for going public with their concerns. He believes they should air their grievance inside the party, not in public. But Warner and Maharaj have said repeatedly that the party has become dictatorial with no room for dissent or discussion unless it suits the wishes of the political leader.

Their main grouse is that the party's internal elections are long overdue. They say the membership - and the nation - need to settle the leadership question and move on to modernize the party to prepare for local government election due this year and national elections later.

But Panday has made it clear that the Natex has made a decision to postpone the internal election until after the local election and that is not going to change.

While 11 elected members of the party continue to support the leader, there is a perception that rank and file members don't share that view.

And a new opinion poll suggests that Panday should step down as political leader. The poll, conducted by the U.S.-based North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA), also indicates that many UNC supporters are disenchanted over the internal bickering.

Nacta says voters feel as long as Panday leads the UNC or has an active role in the party the People’s National Movement (PNM) will continue to win elections. The PNM commands a strong majority of 26 seats in the 41-member House of Representatives.

"Voters overwhelmingly said they will not support an opposition led by Panday,” NACTA said in a statement. “The poll shows support for the UNC has shrunk considerably since the last general elections and there are mixed feelings among disgruntled PNM supporters as well as supporters of the Congress of the People (COP) about any tie up with the UNC,” the pollsters said.

NACTA says its survey suggests that most of the COP supporters would oppose any political deal with the UNC led by Panday, but will warm to an alliance with Maharaj and Warner in a united opposition.

NACTA polled 462 individuals reflecting the demographic composition of the population. It says 76 per cent support the Warner and Maharaj campaign calling for change in the UNC.

The organization also says that only 11 per cent of UNC supporters said they would support the party in the next election with Panday leading it. That's a sharp drop from the 30 per cent popular support the UNC obtained in the last general election in 2007, when it won 15 seats.

NACTA said that 86 per cent of respondents also oppose to any move to dismiss Maharaj and Warner from the party.