Winston Dookeran has sent a document of unification to the leader of the United National Congress (UNC) seeking dialogue.Speaking with reporters Wednesday the Congress of the People (COP) leader insisted that his party remains relevant to the politics of Trinidad and Tobago despite predictions that Persad-Bissessar's election as UNC leader would erode the COP's base.
Dookeran said his party was formed out of dissatisfaction with the UNC leadership and noted that the COP’s central vision is one of integrity.
He said that explains the strong support COP received in the 2007 general election although it did not win a seat.
COP got just over 22 per cent of the popular vote to the 29 per cent for the UNC Alliance, which won 15 of the 41 seats in the House of Representatives, with bthe governing PNM getting the other 26.
Dookeran said he has not seen the exodus of COP members that political anaylsts had been predicting.
In fact he told reporters so far no COP member has joined the UNC since the election on January 24. And he said he does not expect any signficant move away from COP.
Speaking about the need for dialogue among opposition groups, Dookeran said the party is wants to meet with both the UNC and the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC).
He said the rationale behind his party's document, "The Politics of Nationhood" is to initiate open dialogue on "fixing" politics in Trinidad and Tobago.
The document does not recommend a unified opposition but raises the issue of political collaboration with different parties that could form the basis for opening a dialogue.
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