Partap denies "hooligan" behaviour at UNC caucus

Harry Partap has admitted that he told former UNC leader Basdeo Panday Wednesday that the door is open and he can leave.

But he insists that he was not disrespectful to his former leader or that he behaved like a hooligan.

The matter came up during a caucus meeting at which Panday tried to get the caucus to agree to a public inquiry into reports of irregularities with the party's January 24 internal election.

Partap, who chaired the meeting, refused to let the matter go to a vote as demanded by Panday because it was not on the agenda and also because the issue of the election was already referred to the national executive.

UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters later that the caucus was not the body to deal with that issue.

Read the story: Pandays, Ramnath storm out of UNC caucus

Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath has been most vocal in his criticism of Partap and he has said Partap's attitude has created a greater division in the UNC than existed before Wednesday.

"He was very rude and insolent. I feel quite certain things are going to get worse," Ramnath told the Trinidad Express. He said he probably won't attend future caucus meetings and subject himself to insults.

"The way Harry behaved...I didn’t see it forthcoming. I was surprised to see someone grounded in church and religion behave that way, like a hooligan. I would really like to see him behave like that in the Parliament," Panday's brother Subhas, told reporters.

But Partap is standing firm on his position. "Mr Panday was saying the meeting was illegal and he did not recognise the chair and the Chief Whip, so I did in fact say the door is there and he was free to leave. But, afterwards I apologised for saying so, a hooligan would never apologise," he said.

Panday left with his brother and daughter. And Ramnath, together with Senators Adesh Nanan and M.F. Rahman left the meeting and held their private caucus in another part of the Rienzi Complex where the caucus meeting was held.

Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma, a loyal Panday supporter over the years, did not join them.

He said he remained discussions were continuing so he remained at the meeting.

“Everybody has a right to stay or leave. It is not a big deal and it is not a right and wrong issue. If Mr Panday concluded that his contribution was not being taken into account then he chose to leave.

"The sitting goes for particular period and I stayed because the meeting was not concluded," he told the Express.

Panday had accused Persad-Bissessar of being a puppet of UNC chairman Jack Warner, saying she could not make any decision unless it was first approved by Warner.

Sharma disagreed with that. He told the Express, “Mr Panday makes his decisions and he doesn’t depend on anybody...I am not aware that Kamla cannot make a decision without Mr Warner. If an issue requires an executive decision, then there will be consultation."