As he tries to wrest back the UNC from the grip of his opponents, UNC founder Basdeo Panday is utilising his experience as a lawyer to file charges against the party leadership for what he claims is fraud in the lead-up to the party's internal elections. Panday made the disclosure on Monday night as he launched his slate, dubbed Generation Next.
The launch was held close to the Debe constituency office of Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal. Even though Panday led UNC foot soldiers for more than 40 years, he attracted a gathering of only 52 people. Panday accused certain members involved in the election process of rigging the elections by taking legitimate financiers off the list, giving multiple party cards to the same person, and distributing cards to people who had never applied for them.
He said he had started gathering evidence so that he could file legal action to declare the elections null and void. He also called for steps to be taken to ensure the elections were fair. "We are demanding that Generation Next be given observer status in the elections committee. We must have a representative there to see if they thiefing," Panday said.
He added: "We want a copy of the final list of all members entitled to vote, with adequate time for inspection and correction of the list. We also want a new date to be set for the closure of nominations and adequate time to be given to people who are nominated to campaign." He also demanded a new date for elections.
"If these conditions are not complied with, we intend to let them go on with the elections and then go to court to have the elections declared null and void, and to compel them to hold free and fair elections. It will not be like the last time. "We are also contemplating whether criminal acts have been committed, that if we find they have committed criminal acts, we will consider bringing not only criminal action but civil action as well," Panday said.
"We are not here to overthrow the Government or bring down the People's Partnership. They killed and strangled our party. We are trying to give our party a blood transfusion," Panday said. He called on the elections committee to publish the list of party members. Panday called on supporters not to be afraid of showing support to the Generation Next slate. He also reminded members that the voting was confidential, so if they voted for his slate, nobody would know.
Meanwhile, Panday's daughter Mickela, also a former UNC MP, said their intention to contest the internal elections was not taken out of malice. "I am not here to cause trouble. We did not do this out of hatred or to cause bacchanal. We are doing this so that you can make an informed decision," Mickela said. She said some areas such as Cumuto were totally neglected by the Government, adding that it was time to take back the UNC from those who destroyed it.