Jack says Panday plotting to keep him out of UNC election

Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner said Thursday Basdeo Panday is plotting to keep him out of any internal election of the United National Congress (UNC).

The UNC Deputy Leader said the plot extends to his colleagues Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Winston "Gypsy" Peters. But he said is not going to go down without a fight, so he will take the matter to court.

Panday told reporters on Wednesday that the executive has decided to convene a congress of the party to discuss a reversal of its decision to postpone internal elections until after the Local Government Elections (LGE) and bring the vote forward now that the local elections are postponed for another year.

Warner told local media, "I am advised that Mr Panday is planning to call a Congress next month and that Congress under section 19.2 of the UNC Constitution intends to put me, Ramesh and Gypsy on a disciplinary charge."

Under the UNC constitution a member who is facing such a charge cannot run for office.

"We are not making Mr Panday distract us," he said adding that he, Maharaj and Peters would be continuing with their public campaign calling for change in the UNC.

Warner also plans to attend next week's UNC caucus. He and Peters left Wednesday's meeting after their parliamentary colleagues walked out on them, saying they could not trust them.

"Let them walk out! I am going!" he promised.

Panday has dismissed Warner's conspiracy theory saying he does not make decisions for the party. He explained that the party has a decision-making structure in place.

He said he has a number of questions for Warner to answer, so he would welcome him at next week's caucus.