Dear Editor,
The latest NACTA survey in Trinidad has found that supporters of the opposition Indian-based UNC have renewed hope that their party will make a comeback to office now that their leader Basdeo Panday and former deputy leader Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj have patched up their differences. A NACTA poll found that supporters overwhelmingly endorse the teaming up of the two men who built the UNC into a viable machine that took the party into government in 1995. However, the findings show the government African-based PNM still ahead in popular support easily winning re-election because the opposition vote is divided between the UNC and the newly formed Congress of People which is a breakaway faction of the UNC.
The opinion survey was conducted over the last week to find out peoples’ views on various issues as well as to determine popular support for the political parties. The survey interviewed 486 voters to represent the demographics of the population.
Panday and Maharaj were at one time the best of friends but they fell out in 2001 when Maharaj called for an investigation into corruption. The party had just won re-election. Panday fired Maharaj, who was deputy leader, as Attorney General and the government collapsed.
The NACTA survey found that UNC supporters are pleased that Panday and Maharaj are teaming up once again confident that their party will make a comeback to office with Maharaj at Panday’s side. Party supporters reminisce about the 1995 victory resulting from the Panday-Ramesh team. The poll shows 86% of UNC supporters approve of Ramesh’s return to the party’s front line. They describe the Panday-Ramesh rapprochement as the best development in the UNC ever since the two stalwarts parted company six years ago. They note that without Ramesh at Panday’s side, the UNC lost office in December 2001 and has not been able to recover in his absence. And they feel Ramesh will help to transform the UNC into a credible force by rehabilitating the party’s election machinery and organizing the opposition forces in an alliance.
UNC supporters point out that other combinations with Panday were tested, including that of COP leader Winston Dookeran, but failed to restore political life to the UNC. They are pleased to return to the Panday-Ramesh team that was successful during the 1990s. But half of UNC supporters express concern that Panday’s legal troubles will hurt the party because he is not attractive enough to swing voters necessary to win an election. They feel Panday should use his influence to reform the party and prepare it for succession. They feel Panday should endorse a strong leader who will enhance the prospect of a united opposition at the elections and that Panday should play a supportive role to a successor.
The UNC faithful also express support for Maharaj’s legal defence of Panday in his appeal against a recent conviction for failure to declare his London bank accounts. Maharaj led the appeal last week to have the conviction overturned. UNC faithful feel Panday’s conviction was politically motivated and are confident that with Ramesh as his lawyer the conviction will be overturned. They also feel that a recent police raid of Panday’s home was an act of political harassment.
Although the Panday-Ramesh combination has energized the UNC base, it may not be sufficient to win the elections. Dookeran’s COP has eaten away some of the UNC support that will allow the PNM to win all ten of the marginal seats and even pose a threat to a few “safe” UNC seats. Dookeran is losing ground with supporters drifting away because of recent goofs and his avowed refusal to unite with other opposition forces. Almost every supporter of UNC and COP wants the two parties to end their squabble and to work together with other opposition forces in building an alliance under a credible leader to contest the elections. Voters are confident that a united opposition will beat the PNM. It is, therefore, in the PNM’s interest to fuel the rift between the COP and UNC in order to win a landslide majority.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram