D-Day for UNC in hotly contested internal election

Thousands of financial members of the United National Congress (UNC) are voting Sunday in an internal election to choose a new 18-member national executive.

The election, which has generated interest comparable with a general election, has pushed the Trinidad and Tobago carnival celebrations to the sidelines.

For the first time ever the UNC leader, Basdeo Panday is facing a challenge for the top post. His challengers are Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a current deputy political leader, and Ramesh L. Maharaj, the MP for Tabaquite.

The other hotly contested position is that of chairman. The candidates are the current vice-chairman, Vasant Bharath and deputy leader Jack Warner.

Those opposed to the team led by Panday have charged that the elections committees have doctored the voting list and removed from the list of people who are not supporting Panday. But officials have dismissed the charges, saying everything is above board.

Polling stations close at 5 PM and results are expected late Sunday or Monday.