THE findings of the latest tracking poll by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) reveal that supporters of the Opposition do not agree with one of his challengers for his position that Trinidad’s Opposition Leader, Basdeo Panday, is “a loser.” In fact, among the voters NACTA interviewed, Panday is seen as a legend similar to how the late Cheddi Jagan is viewed in Guyana. Panday’s traditional supporters describe him as the best Prime Minister T&T has ever produced and they wish if he could make a comeback.
But the political deck is stacked against Panday facing a tough battle to survive even as leader of the UNC in the internal elections, because supporters of another party have attempted to make membership to vote out Panday and replace him with Kamla Persad Bissessar, his deputy, who attacked Panday as a loser.
Panday’s supporters describe him as “a winner”, pointing out that after a ruling alliance expelled Panday in 1988, he formed the UNC and turned it into a winner. They say Bissessar was silent when the alliance removed Panday and they feel another effort is under way to remove Panday from his own party through Bissessar. The UNC loyalists note that Panday “won” in 1995 and 2000 and he was “cheated” of office in 2001 because of bad advice from Kamla and others around him to sign an Accord giving up his right to remain as Prime Minister in a tied election of 2001.
They also note that Panday came from behind “to win” the NAR in 1991 and the COP (which they describe as an incarnation of NAR) in 2007. They say Kamla is a loser, pointing out that under Kamla’s watch; the UNC lost a seat in Kamla’s backyard in Penal to the PNM.
They note that Kamla is continuously praising Panday as “best leader” and attacking others for critiquing Panday. They also say Kamla encouraged Panday to get rid of his critics (like Jack Warner and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj) who were calling for change in and reforming the UNC. They say it is hypocritical for Kamla to now condemn Panday when she had opportunities to show leadership to stop the haemorrhaging in political support for UNC.
Asked if they agree with Kamla’s description of Panday as being a loser, 71% said no with only 21% saying yes. Panday’s supporters felt Kamla should not have praised him for so many years if she felt “he was a loser”.
According to the findings, Panday has the edge to win the internal election because UNC loyalists view him as the strongest leader to fight the PNM. Loyalist members feel Kamla is too weak against the PNM and that she has no track record of building the party or mobilising the base to win an election.
However, Kamla is way ahead among members from another party entitled to vote giving her an overall edge in what is turning out to be a competitive election. However, many dual members say they are not certain their names will remain on the list which could stymie their plan to vote out Panday.
The campaign for leadership has taken on a nasty tone with deep animosity and resentment that the candidates express of one another. The party could well find itself in tatters beyond repair when the voting is finished.