Opposition groups inching towards unity

There appears to be some movement in the opposition ranks in Trinidad and Tobago to form a united front against the governing People's National Movement (PNM). And some of the strong signals are coming from from Basdeo Panday, political leader and chairman of the United National Congress (UNC).

Panday is locked in a battle with some members of his own party over leadership, administration matters and the need for change. The "Movement for Change" is led by UNC Deputy Leader (Administration) Jack Warner and includes MPs Ramesh L. Maharaj and Winston "Gypsy" Peters.

However, former UNC member, Gavin Nicholas, has been working behind the scenes to unite the opposition and so far he has got positive responses from most of the key players, including Warner and Panday.

The optimism is in internal emails exchanged between Panday and Nicholas. It was Panday who initiated the most recent dialogue on the issue.

In an email to Nicholas sent Sunday, Panday wrote: "When we last met I told you that I was prepared to support any system that allowed the members of the various parties opposed to the PNM to choose their leaders of a united group. I believe on that occasion you undertook to raise this matter with other political leaders/Parties. What has been the response? I think you should let the people know."

In reply Sunday night, Nicholas confirmed that Panday agreed at the meeting at his office "to participate in an election of all the opposition parties to elect a leader and an executive in an effort to bring about credible unity through the democratic process".

Nicholas updated Panday on progress since then.

"I have since met with the political leader of the COP and Mr. Warner on the issue and have had the views of the DPTT and others. I do not feel at liberty yet to divulge the detailed responses of Mr. Warner and Mr. Dookeran to the public.

"HOWEVER, I can say that Mr. Warner expressed more support for the idea than Mr. Dookeran who promised to allow me a forum to address his party on the issue but has not yet done so."

Nicholas advised Panday that one principal concern among other stakeholders is whether there would be free and fair elections and asked for a commitment from Panday that any election would be above board.

"I would like you to take this opportunity to reassure all those concerned that you are prepared to have the elections conducted by independent personnel and properly scrutinized by neutral and mutually agreed to auditors to ensure and guarantee the credibility of the process" Nicholas told Panday.

In earlier e-mail correspondence Nicholas made it clear that in his opinion there will never be a credible opposition in the eyes of the people if opposition forces continue to be divided and fight among themselves.

"There are no saints among the players in opposition politics, so stop pretending that there are. The same senior players dispersed among opposition forces today have been around since the NAR government and some before that", Nicholas wrote.

He added, "It is unrealistic, not to mention unfair, for anyone to call for the resignation of anyone or for anyone to step aside to facilitate the career prospects of anyone. In democratic war, whoever wants leadership must go to the people and get their support and so derive legitimacy."

He urged everyone to stop "the petty name calling and the inwardly directed hatred" and mend fences "for sanity to prevail." He said the key is for the people to decide who they want to lead them in this "democratic war".

Nicholas, who is a lawyer, first entered politics as a PNM councillor but resigned and joined the UNC after he became disenchanted with the PNM and the way it was run under the leadership of Patrick Manning.

He engaged the PNM's Colm Imbert in a gallant fight in Diego Martin East in 2002 winning 2,737 votes to Imbert's 9,770. Following the election he worked as a legal adviser to Panday in the opposition leader's office but later resigned from both the advisory job and the party.

Earlier this year, Nicholas floated the idea of uniting the opposition and electing a leader through a popular vote among everyone who is opposed to the governing party.

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