Warner calls Dookeran's 'standing alone' comment 'unfortunate'

Jack Warner told reporters Friday he is in no position to explain a statement made by Finance Minister Winston Dookeran suggesting that the Congress of the People (COP) can now stand on its own.

Dookeran made the statement earlier in the week when he addressed members of his party who won seats in the Local Government Elections (LGE).

The COP leader said. "I now feel that I have a party that can run on its own. And I have for the first time real politicians in the Congress of the People for they can win elections too. What a great relief!"

Dookeran added, "Keep your banner flying high. It's the idea you support when you support the Congress of the People.

"It's an idea of the nobility of the politics that you support, when you support the People's Partnership. The People's Partnership is the current manifestation of the idea of new politics. Always remember that," he said.

Warner, who is one of the principal architects of the People's Partnership, which includes COP, said he thinks it is "unfortunate" for Dookeran to talk about standing alone "at this point in time".

However he told journalists Dookeran might be the best person to answer their question about the comments and added, "when he answers it, please tell me, because I too want to know."

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, who left COP and rejoined the UNC, also commented on Dookeran's statement.

"The days of standing alone in politics have gone and hopefully receded into a distant memory in this country. The People's Partnership is about bringing people and the country together so we will rise as one people, as one nation," he said.