Panday threatens to go to court over UNC election

Former leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Basdeo Panday is threatening to take legal action against the party if the Generation Next team is not allowed to file nomination papers the party's March 24 executive elections.

Panday has been advising the group to mount a challenge to "take back" the party, which he claims has been "stolen".

The former Prime Minister and his team were soundly defeated in the 2010 election, with Kamla Persad-Bissessar winning over 13,000 votes while Panday got just over 1300. One one member of his team - Roodal Moonilal - won election to the National Executive (NATEX).

SInce then he has insisted that the party was stolen, without providing any credible evidence to support that. And he continues to make the charge.

“If there is any attempt to prevent the election from being free and fair and free from fear, we propose to take them to court," he told the Guardian newspaper.

“They will not steal the elections like they did the last time when they substituted the list and put names of people who ought not to be there and took off the names of people who ought to be on the list,” Panday said.

“Not this time. This time we go to court. Those who wish to play games will be exposed,” he declared.

In the 2010 elections Panday was the leader and the election officials were selected by the executive that was controlled by Panday. 

Panday claims that the UNC's general secretary has refused to provide a list of members who are eligible to vote, claiming that it is not a public document.

According to the party rules any financial member can run for a post if his or her nomination is endorsed by 35 eligible voters. Panday told the Guardian that is why he needs the list.

“We do not know who is on the list, but we will go through the motions and we shall do our best to find out, eventually, whether the list contains persons who are not supposed to be there.”

Roodal Moonilal, one of the party's deputy political leaders explained that any potential candidate can examine the list at the party's headquarters.

He added, "Mr Panday is very close and dear to us, and I am sure if he speaks to the secretary at Rienzi she will assist him, because he plays a special part of our history.” 

Moonilal noted that the system is the same as when Panday was the leader. “We have not changed the system. I don’t know that the membership list has been changed. No one has been expelled from the party in the last two years. It might be the same voter list,” Moonilal noted.

“This is a democratic party and we are happy that other people have decided to contest. We are confident we would have a lively campaign. It would not be big and grand as the last elections because the position of political leader is not up for contest. 

"But Mr Panday attracts attention. I am not sure how electorally influential his slate would be, but I am sure it would be lively,” Moonilal said.

Current UNC executive
1. Political Leader: Kamla Persad-Bissessar
2. Deputy Political Leader (1): Lyndira Oudit
3. Deputy Political Leader (2): Roodal Moonilal
4. Deputy Political Leader (3): Suruj Rambachan
5. Chairman: Jack Warner
6. Deputy Chairman: Fuad Khan
7. Treasurer: William Archie
8. Party Organiser: Vinush Maharaj
9. Policy and Strategy Officer: Colin Partap
10. Research Officer: Arnold Ram
11. Education Officer: Daphne Phillips
12. Elections Officer: Ramona Ramdial
13. International Relations Officer: Shane Mohammed
14. Regional Representative - Tobago: Barrington “Skippy” Thomas
15. Regional Representative - North West: Don Sylvester
16. Regional Representative - Central: Sylvester Ramquar
17. Regional Representative - North East: Taran Sooklal
18. Regional Representative—South: Shanty Boodram