T&T'S UNC FRACTURING; PANDAY "ENFORCES" UNITY

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000229

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TD
SUBJECT: T&T'S UNC FRACTURING; PANDAY "ENFORCES" UNITY


1. (U) Trinidad and Tobago's opposition United
National Congress (UNC) is increasingly in disarray.
On February 10, Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday
fired Senator Robin Montano, allegedly because he
discussed internal party matters publicly. Montano
strongly opposed Panday's apparent intention to readmit
former UNC member Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. Montano
initially made a motion at an executive meeting, and
went public with his reservations about Maharaj after
his motion went nowhere. Montano's removal sparked an
acrimonious war of words, with a significant minority
of UNC senators and MPs expressing their support for
Montano. UNC Senator Roy Augustus went so far as to
resign due to the "viciousness emanating from certain
members of the national executive." After Augustus
quit, Panday said publicly that he was ready to accept
any resignations that are offered.


2. (U) Maharaj was Attorney General from 1995-2000
during the UNC government. He exited the party in
2000, citing massive UNC corruption. Two UNC MPs
followed suit. Their departure cost the UNC its
majority in parliament, forcing Panday to call early
elections, which resulted in the Peoples National
Movement (PNM) gaining power. Many UNC members blame
Maharaj for "destroying the party," and are outraged
that he is apparently being considered for a senior
position without even an apology for his previous
actions causing the UNC to lose power. Letters to the
editor in the major newspapers illustrate deep unease
with Panday's tactics by the UNC's supporters in the
population.


3. (U) UNC Political Leader, Winston Dookeran, has
tried to play the role of conciliator within the party,
but appears increasingly sidelined. Dookeran called
for the February 19th rally, at which Maharaj is
scheduled to speak, to be canceled, but was not at the
meeting in which the party executive decided to proceed
with the rally as planned. Panday is sticking to the
story that he invited Maharaj to speak due to his
experience as Attorney General under the UNC, and his
expertise in dealing with corruption. The rally's
stated purpose is to "reveal the abuse of political
power by the government."


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Ironically, "unity" has been
Panday's clarion cry through the whole situation,
thought it appears that he is intent on forcing out
anyone who doesn't play by his rules. By insisting on
bringing back the astute but divisive figure of
Maharaj, Panday runs the risk of alienating most of the
sitting UNC Members of Parliament. It seems that he is
stirring up the party leadership to keep his deputies
fighting among themselves rather than focusing on the
number one slot. Some speculate that, in light of
Panday's legal troubles, he would like Maharaj's
superior legal expertise close to hand. If Dookeran,
or another UNC MP, can prove that Panday no longer has
the support of the majority of opposition
parliamentarians, he could ask the President to appoint
a new Leader of Opposition. Prime Minister Manning is
certainly balancing disarray in the opposition against
continued strong public dissatisfaction with the PNM's
government, largely regarding the crime issue, in his
calculus on calling elections before they are due in
late 2007. END COMMENT.


AUSTIN