Bas is the man; UNC brass endorse Panday

Some of the top members of the United National Congress (UNC) are happy that Basdeo Panday will be running for the leadership of the party and they have advised Kamla Persad-Bissessar to stay out if she doesn't want to "land in the political cemetary."

Panday announced on Monday that he will seek the party's leadership in internal elections scheduled for Jan. 24 and that he would field a team of candidates for the national executive.

He said he needs his own team because he wants to be sure that he can work with the people on the executive.

The Trinidad Express did a poll of some top UNC members. Here's what some of them told the paper:

Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath:
"There is a lot of work to be done and he needs to lead that effort. I welcome that announcement, it is going to be helpful to the party...Her (Persad-Bissessar) time has not yet come and I don’t think it’s even wise for her to put her name up."

UNC vice-chairman Vasant Bharath:
"I welcome that position, in fact I don’t think there is anyone else better to lead the party into another general election other than Mr Panday. He has the experience, he has the knowledge, he certainly is the only person that the PNM fears. Politically, he is the most savvy and he is the most competent to lead the forces."

UNC Deputy political leader Senator Wade Mark:
"If he wants somebody to nominate him, I will nominate him. Mr Panday has made a very big contribution to Trinidad and Tobago. I always say he is a living legend, he’s a national hero."

Oropouche East MP Roodal Moonilal would support Panday:
"Once he has assessed that he is fit enough and in good health and have the energy."

Opposition Senator Mohammed Faisal Rahaman:
"I think that he is the biggest drawing card that the UNC has for the general electorate. Even if Mr Panday had half of what he has in terms of qualities and capabilities, he remains the magnet for the tribe that supports him...Kamla is a wonderful woman and the day that Mr Panday removes himself from office for whatever reason she will get my support, unless someone very dynamic and even better comes along."

It's a different story from the Ramjack Group. Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner and Mayaro MP Winston "Gypsy" Peters have said that they would support Persad-Bissessar if she challenges Panday.

Warner has suggested that Panday is running because that's going to keep the PNM in office.

Persad-Bissessar is in Florida and would likely miss Sunday's UNC National Assembly that would confirm the Jan. 24 date for the election.

There is a strong lobby within the UNC for her to challenge Panday for the leadership, with supporters saying she is the best candidate to unite the opposition and defeat the PNM.

So far she has not commented on her intentions. However, there is a growing online FACEBOOK group in support of her as leader. The group is growing daily and currently has more than 400 members.

Panday supporters have suggested it would be political suicide for anyone to challenge "the chief" for the leadership.