Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTOFSPAIN521
2006-04-28 17:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Of Spain
Cable title:  

UNC EXECUTIVE: PNM'S OUT TO GET US, BUT PANDAY'S

Tags:  PGOV KCOR TD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0020
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSP #0521/01 1181741
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 281741Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6758
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000521 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV KCOR TD
SUBJECT: UNC EXECUTIVE: PNM'S OUT TO GET US, BUT PANDAY'S
STILL FIGHTING

REF: A. A. PORT OF SPAIN 00488


B. B. PORT OF SPAIN 00505

C. C. PORT OF SPAIN 00253

Classified By: Classified by: DCM, Eugene P. Sweeney for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000521

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV KCOR TD
SUBJECT: UNC EXECUTIVE: PNM'S OUT TO GET US, BUT PANDAY'S
STILL FIGHTING

REF: A. A. PORT OF SPAIN 00488


B. B. PORT OF SPAIN 00505

C. C. PORT OF SPAIN 00253

Classified By: Classified by: DCM, Eugene P. Sweeney for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In an April 25 meeting with Political
Section officers, the United National Congress (UNC)
executive indicated their belief that former Leader of the
Opposition Panday's conviction and sentence is another sign
of Government harassment and abuse of the Opposition. They
detailed other alleged Government abuses of power and asked
that the USG raise the issue with the Government to end their
power madness. The UNC leaders also derided ostracized
Political Leader Winston Dookeran, indicating that he is out
of step with the party and on his way out. Further, they
place their trust in Panday who continues to call the shots
from jail. This attitude of victimization along with
unwavering loyalty to Panday is unlikely to gain the UNC any
new support among the populace and probably will not propel
them into Government in the next general elections, despite
the UNC's belief to the contrary. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
UNC ALLEGES PNM IS POWER HUNGRY; MANIPULATING SYSTEM
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Political Section officers met with available members
of the UNC Executive Council on April 25 in the wake of
Basdeo Panday's conviction and revocation of his position as
Leader of the Opposition (reftels A and B). Three members of
the UNC Executive Council, (CEO Dr. Tim Gopeesingh, Vice
Chairman Vasant Bharath and Deputy Political Leader Wade
Mark) and former UNC Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj
were present for the meeting. Overall, the UNC sees Panday's
conviction and sentencing as just one more sign that the PNM
has gone mad with power and is attempting to get rid of the
UNC before the next elections.


3. (C) Although not yet a party member, Ramesh Lawrence
Maharaj did most of the talking, supposedly because of his
extensive experience as a lawyer, his prior experience as an
Attorney General and his open lines of communication with
Panday. Maharaj stated, quoting from the written decision of

Chief Magistrate McNicholls, "After its presentation, I
determined that the prosecution had proven its case, and
called on the defense to answer the charges." According to
Maharaj, this indicates that McNicholls had reached his
decision even before the defense made its case, which is a
violation of appropriate practice and illustrates
manipulation by the PNM. If nothing else, according to
Maharaj, it is clear grounds for an appeal and likely to get
the conviction thrown out. Maharaj further opined that not
granting bail as a matter of course in a summary judgment is
unheard of in T&T, and indicates that the PNM simply wants to
take Panday off the scene for a couple of weeks for some
undisclosed reason. (NOTE: There are a couple of problems
with these assertions. First, it is normal for the judge or
magistrate to determine whether the prosecution's case is
worthy of rebuttal before calling on the defense to proceed
with its case. In this case, McNicholls may have been sloppy
with his language. Second, the UNC is ignoring the
distinction between the constitutional right to bail before
conviction and the discretionary right of a judge to grant
bail based on extraordinary or humanitarian grounds after a
conviction and while appeal is pending. END NOTE.)


4. (C) Maharaj also raised his concern that the President
acted astonishingly quickly in declaring the post of Leader
of the Opposition vacant in less than 24 hours. Noting that
Prime Minister Manning announced Monday evening that the
Acting Attorney General was in consultation with the
President on the next constitutional steps, Maharaj
questioned the appropriateness of this close collaboration
and identified it as further inappropriate influence. (NOTE:
After receiving her nomination from eight of the 15
remaining opposition MPs, the President also acted quickly in
confirming Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the new Leader of the
Opposition, reaching a decision in much less than 24 hours
(ref B). END NOTE.)


5. (C) In what is likely an effort to redirect attention
away from Panday's predicament, UNC CEO Dr. Tim Gopeesingh
cited government initiatives such as the proposed
redevelopment of east Port of Spain and the proposed new
aluminum smelters in the south as indicators of government
disregard for the consultative process. He also alleges that
the Director of Public Prosecutions is no longer independent
of the Government, and pointed out that recommended DPP

investigations into the activities of PNM members in
redevelopment of the Point Fortin area have never been acted
upon. UNC Vice Chairman Vasant Bharath noted that
Trinbagonians have gone numb and are oblivious to the gradual
accretion of power to the PNM. Gopeesingh and Mark requested
some sort of intervention by the USG as the GOTT is "abusing
its power and leading T&T, and even all of CARICOM down the
wrong track. Their actions should be disturbing to the USG
because of the vast investment in T&T."

--------------
DOOKERAN: NOT A REAL LEADER AND OUT OF SYNCH
--------------


6. (C) The UNC executive clearly indicated their dislike for
Dookeran. Gopeesingh nearly snarled when Dookeran's name
came up. They allege that certain business interests who
wish to maintain the status quo are financially backing
Dookeran, as well as the PNM, so that the PNM will win the
next general elections. The UNC representatives universally
derided Dookeran's leadership ability and said that he was
out of step with the party. Maharaj identified the February
19 UNC Unity Rally (ref C) as a turning point in Dookeran's
career with the UNC. Dookeran came with a message
dramatically different from that of the others on the stage,
and has not been able to recover his standing with the
rank-and-file, nor with the UNC leadership since.
Additionally, Wade Mark noted that Dookeran was not working
to rally the party behind Panday, which is what they would
have expected a true party leader to do. At the press
conference announcing Persad-Bissessar's Leader position,
Gopeesingh publicly derided Dookeran for being out of step
and not supporting the party.

--------------
NEVER FEAR, PAPA PANDAY'S GOT A PLAN...
--------------


7. (C) At the end of the meeting, Maharaj revealed that he
had visited Panday in jail, and informed him that they were
meeting with embassy representatives. Panday approved of the
meeting and encouraged Maharaj to provide whatever
information he could. Panday also passed along that although
he was in prison, he still had a plan, the results of which,
Maharaj commented, we would see soon enough. Mark and
Gopeesingh highlighted the fact that Panday is inextricably
linked to the UNC, and indicated that he will continue to
call the shots, even though he may be outside the Parliament.
They pointed out that Dookeran came to power only because
Panday gave it to him, and they hinted that Dookeran's power
is soon to be taken away.

--------------
COMMENT: PANDAY FOCUS HOLDING THE UNC BACK
--------------


8. (C) The UNC seems to have settled on a message of PNM
abuse of power and persecution of the opposition as their
primary talking points. The UNC Executive is also
maintaining a fierce, nearly dogmatic loyalty to the jailed
Panday. In spite of their assertions that Panday's sentence
will galvanize the UNC and lead them to an overwhelming
victory in the next general elections, we doubt very much
that this is the case. The UNC is too divided against itself
and much of the populace is getting fed up with what they see
as political posturing in place of action on issues of
concern, such as crime or the cost of food. Selecting Kamla
Persad-Bissessar, a Panday devotee and likely hand-picked
successor, as Leader of the Opposition means that there will
be more of the same from the UNC for the foreseeable future.
There is much speculation that she will merely be a
seat-warmer for former AG Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, who would
need to win a seat in a by-election for Panday's seat or the
next parliamentary elections to be considered for the Leader
position, or even for Panday himself if he is somehow able to
get his conviction overturned on appeal. END COMMENT.
AUSTIN