"UNITY" RALLY WELCOMES MAHARAJ TO T&T'S UNC;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT OF SPAIN 000253 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM SENV KCRM TD SUBJECT: "UNITY" RALLY WELCOMES MAHARAJ TO T&T'S UNC; DIVISIONS STILL EVIDENT REF: A. PORT OF SPAIN 00245 ¶B. PORT OF SPAIN 00229 ¶C. PORT OF SPAIN 00200 ¶D. PORT OF SPAIN 00141 ¶1. SUMMARY: The United National Congress (UNC) held a Unity Rally on February 19 to smooth over divisions in the party and to criticize the ruling People's National Movement. Former UNC Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj keynoted and received a warm welcome. In spite of fiery speeches, the UNC has not clearly healed its rift, and Political Leader Winston Dookeran continues to be sidelined by Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday and his team. END SUMMARY. -------------- DIVERGING MESSAGES AT THE UNITY RALLY -------------- ¶2. Trinidad and Tobago's opposition United National Congress (UNC) held a Unity Rally on February 19. Supporters flooded the parking lot of a shopping mall in south-central Trinidad to express their commitment to the party in spite of its apparent internal divisions (reftels). Organizers estimated that some 25,000 UNC stalwarts stood in the hot sun for five hours. In return, they got to hear the party leadership denounce the Peoples' National Movement (PNM) government and outline, very briefly, the party's platform for the anticipated next general elections. They also witnessed Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj's triumphal return to speak at a party function. ¶3. Although it was billed as a Unity Rally, some internal differences were immediately apparent. One group held signs criticizing Chief Whip Ganga Singh for being a divisive force in the party (ref A). Others carried placards saying "Maharaj in Parliament Now" and still another group directed their displeasure with everyone, carrying signs saying, "Get the Politics Right, Right NOW." Many attendees wore t-shirts supporting their electoral district, including some who were from Political Leader Winston Dookeran's area. Although there was speculation that Dookeran would stay away since he had asked that the rally be canceled (ref B),his supporters were confident, asserting, "Even though Panday has lost his marbles, Dookeran will be here. You'll see." ¶4. Still other UNC supporters took the opportunity to protest specific PNM policies. The proposed Alcoa Aluminum Smelter was the target of at least three different protest groups, including a large banner that blocked the main platform from time to time. Additional placards protested the treatment of sugar workers and, of course, deplored the rising crime rate and widespread poverty. -------------- -------------- SPEECHES: DOWN WITH THE PNM, LONG LIVE PANDAY'S UNC -------------- -------------- ¶5. Deputy Political Leader Wade Mark, acting as Master of Ceremonies, used his opening comments to challenge the PNM to call snap elections, because "the united UNC is ready." Nearly all the speakers hit the same themes: Prime Minister Patrick "Mugabe" Manning wants to be emperor, the PNM is abusing its power and using state organs to decimate the ranks of the UNC before the next elections and the PNM is misallocating the country's resources. While most speakers simply made these assertions, well-known lawyer and UNC Member of Parliament Kamla Persad-Bissessar cited numerous statistics and development indices to paint the picture that, in spite of high petroleum revenues, the PNM government has not bettered the lot of the average Trinbagonian. In light of Panday's legal troubles with the Integrity Commission (ref C),she also ran through a list of PNM members in political office who did not declare their assets to the Commission and against whom no court processes have been filed. Beleagured UNC Senator Sadiq Baksh also gave a detailed account of his trials and tribulations stemming from the contraband found on his property (ref D),alleging that the PNM is setting him up to be assassinated, or at least discredited politically. ¶6. The crowd was primed to hear Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj speak. Wade Mark was careful to identify him as an invited guest, but did point out that he was PORT OF SP 00000253 002 OF 002 formerly Chief Whip and a Deputy Political Leader in the party; almost certainly warning shots to Ganga Singh (ref A) and to Winston Dookeran. Maharaj started his comments in a conciliatory tone, stating that it was good to be back in the house of the UNC. He talked about the UNC's admirable goals for the future, and how he felt "tabanca," a Trini slang term denoting desperate longing, for the UNC. When he said that he was sorry for causing pain and heartache to the UNC, the crowd cheered thunderously and he received a standing ovation from the platform. After this overwhelming sign of approbation, Maharaj carefully used "we" rather than "you" when referring to the UNC; a clear indication that Maharaj intends to officially come back into the party. ¶7. Dookeran did show up, and spoke as advertised. However, his speech focused less on problems with the PNM Government and more on the need to move forward within the UNC. In return, he was booed by the crowd (at least one local newspaper has reported the claim that the boos came from a group that was paid to do so),but continued with his speech. Dookeran spent the majority of his time talking about the internal challenges that the UNC faces, rather than the evils of the PNM. His speech came the closest to outlining a concrete platform and way forward for the UNC. He also took the politically risky move of sticking up for fired and resigned UNC Senators Robin Montano and Roy Augustus, respectively (ref A),as well as reaching out to alienated UNC backbencher Gerald Yetming. -------------- -------------- IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE: CONTINUED DIVISION? -------------- -------------- ¶8. COMMENT: While a pretty piece of theatre for the rank-and-file, the rally did little or nothing to heal the rift in the party. Panday is still wholly in control of his UNC, as evidenced by his triumphal entrance to a procession of tassa drums and the strains of Yanni's stirring "Santorini" which interrupted Senator Sadiq Baksh's litany of grievances against the PNM (ref D). Dookeran still seems to be out of step with the juggernaut. Even though Panday included Dookeran in his announced UNC dream team of Panday, Jack Warner, Dookeran and Maharaj, it remains to be seen if Dookeran will really have a place in the party, and a say in the direction it goes. ¶9. In spite of these internal differences, an unscientific online poll by one of the major newspapers indicates that the UNC is certainly still in the running, with a plurality of respondents answering that the UNC could beat the PNM in an election. Additionally, the UNC can count on its loyal Indo-Trini base to guarantee a good showing in any upcoming elections. The real question will be how effective each party is in reaching out to voters outside their respective ethnic populations. END COMMENT. AUSTIN