COP to contact UNC to discuss "People's Charter"

The Congress of the People (COP) is planning to get in touch with the United National Congress (UNC) to continue dialogue on opposition unity.

COP's Timothy Hamel-Smith has confirmed that he will contact UNC vice chairman Vasant Bharath to arrange a meeting to discuss COP’s People’s Charter.

The UNC cancelled a previous meeting to protest statements by COP Leader Winston Dookeran, which it considered inappropriate.

Dookeran told supporters that the recent meeting between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday was part of a conspiracy to get a new constitution passed.

And UNC Deputy Leader Panday Kamla Persad-Bissessar had to cancel her appearance on a COP "Axe the ax" rally after Panday complained that she didn't have authorization from the UNC national executive to speak on the COP platform.

Subsequent to that Panday said on a political platform that he had written to Dookeran requesting another meeting to continue discussions.

Dookeran confirmed that he received Panday's letter and said he would make arrangements for a meeting.

COP has insisted that it is the only political party in Trinidad and Tobago today that could win an election and has invited UNC members to join COP.

The party is planning a major event next month when it launches an office on Port of Spain. The UNC is holding its national assembly on Sunday at Rienzi Complex.

The assembly will ratify decisions by UNC’s Congress, recently, including the proposal for UNC, to hold internal elections on January 24, 2010.