United National Congress
Encyclopedia
The United National Congress (UNC) is one of the two major political parties in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
and one of the parties in the current ruling coalition. It was founded by Basdeo Panday
, a lawyer and former trade unionist. The UNC was formed as the result of a split in the ruling National Alliance for Reconstruction
in 1988. After spending six years in Opposition, the UNC won control of the government in 1995 (initially in coalition
with the National Alliance for Reconstruction and later on its own). In the 2000 General Elections, the UNC won an absolute majority in the Parliament
. In 2001, a split in the party caused the UNC to lose its parliamentary majority and control of the government. Between 1991 and 1995, and again from 2001 – 2010, the UNC was the Parliamentary Opposition party. In May 2010, the UNC returned to government as the majority party in the People's Partnership
, the current ruling coaltion in Trinidad and Tobago. With this victory, the UNC's political leader Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar
was sworn-in as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the first female to hold this position. Although many people see the UNC as the successor party to the United Labour Front
, the UNC managed to attract much broader support than did any previous Indo-Trinidadian
-dominated party. It recently won 11 of the 14 regional cooperation for the local government election held on 26 July 2010.
The party symbol is the rising sun
above the Trinity Hills
.
. In that split 6 MP
s (including Panday) all of whom were former members of the United Labour Front left the NAR to form the Caucus for Love, Unity and Brotherhood 1988 (CLUB 88). CLUB 88 evolved into the United National Congress with Panday as leader. Panday had also been the leader of the United Labour Front
The UNC won 13 seats in the 1991 General Elections and became the official opposition. It won a 14th seat in a bye-election and gained another in 1995 when Ralph Maraj
defected from the PNM. In 1995 Hulsie Bhaggan, MP
for Chaguanas
left the party to form the Movement for Unity and Progress
(MUP).
with the National Alliance for Reconstruction which won 2 seats. In exchange for his support, NAR political leader ANR Robinson
was first appointed Minister Extraordinaire and then elected President
in 1997. Two PNM MPs defected from the party and supported the UNC as independent members. This gave the UNC an absolute majority, and led to deterioration in relations with the NAR.
In the 2000 elections the UNC won 19 seats forming the government outright. However, internal party elections in 2001 highlighted a rift in the party with Panday and Attorney-General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj
in effect fielding rival slates. Maharaj's slate termed itself 'Team Unity'. Panday was not challenged as Political Leader but Maharaj's slate won 21 of the 24 other executive posts. Maharaj himself was elected as the new Deputy Leader.
This did not translate into increased prestige for Maharaj in the government as Panday refused to recommend Maharaj as Acting Prime Minister in his absence. Maharaj countered by initiating investigations into charges of corruption by Panday and his supporters. Panday then reduced the ministerial portfolios of Maharaj and his supporters. This led to the defection of Maharaj; Agriculture Minister, Trevor Sudama and Information Technology Minister, Ralph Maraj
who formed the new party Team Unity
. This led to the calling of early elections in 2001 in which the UNC were reduced to 18 seats in the House of Representatives
. The opposition People's National Movement, which also won 18 seats, was called upon to form the government.
, 7 October 2002, the party won 46.5% of popular votes and 16 out of 36 seats in the House of Representatives
. This made it the opposition in parliament
to the ruling People's National Movement
(PNM) government, which held the other 20 seats.
In April 2005 the UNC was further weakened when Pointe-à-Pierre
MP Gillian Lucky
and San Juan
MP Fuad Khan
declared themselves to be "independent UNC members" and relocated to the Opposition backbenches
. On 31 May 2005, Basdeo Panday, together with his wife Oma, former UNC MP Carlos John and party financier Ishwar Galbaransingh were arrested for bribery. Basdeo Panday
refused bail and remained in prison for eight days.
On 2 September 2005, Panday announced that he would be willing to hand over party leadership to Winston Dookeran
(St. Augustine
M.P.
) if Panday could remain on as party chairman http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-09-04/news5.html.As a result of negotiations between the two, Dookeran was nominated unopposed for the post of Political Leader and Panday was nominated unopposed for the party Chairmanship. However, both fielded rival slates for the remaining 16 executive posts. (The party had reorganized itself, reducing the executive from 25 to 18 posts, but also splitting the deputy leadership into three.)
On 2 October, Basdeo Panday's
slate won 12 of the posts including two of the three deputy leader positions and (after a recount) the vice-chairmanship. Dookeran's slate won the 4 remaining posts. Members of the slate backed by Dookeran have called for Basdeo Panday
to step down as Leader of the Opposition. Gerald Yetming
, MP for St. Joseph
joined the Opposition back benches in protest of Basdeo Panday's
failure to relinquish the position of Leader of the Opposition.
In February 2006 Panday announced that he had reconciled with Ramesh Maharaj
. Maharaj was to mark his return to the party by speaking at a party rally held at Mid-Centre Mall in Chaguanas on 19 February. At that rally Dookeran, who spoke before Maharaj, criticized his party for accepting Maharaj back in. Dookeran was roundly booed by the crowd.
On 8 March 2006, Yetming announced he was formally leaving the UNC and would serve out his term as an Independent. His chief reason was the return of Maharaj
to the UNC, a move which he opposed but which was endorsed by Basdeo Panday
.
As internal wranglings continued in the party it appeared that a rift between Dookeran and the Executive was deepening. Newspaper accounts indicated that pro-Panday executive and Dookeran were largely functioning independently of each other. Dookeran also suffered a loss of support as Deputy Leader Jack Warner and Roodal Moonilal (MP for Oropouche), switched sides and announced their support of Panday.
In March Senator Robin Montano had his appointment as Senator revoked by Panday. Montano had both supported Dookeran and opposed the return of Ramesh Maharaj to the UNC.
On the 24 April Basdeo Panday
was convicted of fraud for failing to disclose a bank account under the rules of the Integrity Act. He was sentenced to 2 years hard labour. At the UNC rally held that night Dookeran was not permitted to speak on the platform. Maharaj
, however was seated centre stage at that rally.
On the 25 April Basdeo Panday's
appointment as Opposition Leader was revoked by President Richards
. On 26 April in a surprise move seven UNC MPs announced their support of Deputy Political Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar
as the new Opposition Leader. On 27 April Persad-Bissessar was appointed Opposition Leader and she stated that she would step aside should Panday's appeal prove successful.
The Courts released Basdeo Panday
on bail on Friday 28 April, on the ground of his medical ailments. Following his release on bail, he tendered his resignation as Chairman of the party on 1 May 2006. However, the UNC executive have thus far refused to accept his resignation.
In the months following, the infighting in the UNC increased. Political Leader Dookeran and the party Executive entrenched their opposing positions. Dookeran organised his own personal political apparatus and held political meetings without the Executive's consent. He also ceased to attend Executive meeting. His few allies on the executive were removed. Opposition Leader Persad-Bissessar also replaced Dookeran's supporters in the appointed Senate.
In August 2006 however Panday returned to active politics and in a public display attempted to broker a reconciliation between the two factions. This proved fruitless. Many people in the country including members of Mr. Panday's own support team privately shared the view that it was Mr. Panday who worked behind the scene to undermine Mr. Dookeran's support within the Executive of the UNC. Mr Dookeran who was the actual and legitimate Political Leader of the UNC should have the full powers that accompanies that position as articulated in the Party's Constitution.However, Mr. Dookeran's call for internal change within the UNC had a negative effect on some of the 'old guards' who felt their own position threatened. Panday and the Executive spoke about a collective leadership concept, but the culture of the UNC with Mr. Panday was opposed to that claim.
The UNC was split into two factions, with the Panday loyalists organised into a five member Leadership Council. The Leadership Council was composed of the three Deputy Leaders (Persad -Bissessar, Wade Mark, Jack Warner), the Party CEO Tim Gopeesingh and newly returned Ramesh L. Maharaj. Panday was said to have been appointed as an advisor to the Council.
On 10 September at a large rally, Dookeran announced his resignation as UNC Political Leader and the formation of a new party the Congress of the People
, under his leadership. On 11 September Panday resumed the Chairmanship of the party.
On 3 January 2007 Panday was reinstated as Political leader of the party.
In the 5 November 2007 parliamentary
elections
, the party won 29.73 % and 15 out of 41 seats.
, an MP representing Siparia, was elected the new leader of the United National Congress. Her victory, with 13,932 votes over 1,359 for party founder Basdeo Panday and 1,072 for fellow challenger Ramesh Maharaj
, MP representing Tabaquite
, made Persad-Bissessar the first female leader of a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago.
on 24 May, and Persad-Bissessar was appointed as the first ever female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. The UNC won a majority of 21 seats but they ran as a coalition with the Congress of the People
(winning 6 seats), and the Tobago Organization of the People
(winning 2 seats, both of Tobago's seats), giving the coalition a total of 29 seats.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
and one of the parties in the current ruling coalition. It was founded by Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
, a lawyer and former trade unionist. The UNC was formed as the result of a split in the ruling National Alliance for Reconstruction
National Alliance for Reconstruction
The National Alliance for Reconstruction was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 1991.-History:The party was established in 1986, aiming to be a multi-racial party...
in 1988. After spending six years in Opposition, the UNC won control of the government in 1995 (initially in coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
with the National Alliance for Reconstruction and later on its own). In the 2000 General Elections, the UNC won an absolute majority in the Parliament
Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Parliament is bicameral. It consists of the elected House of Representatives, which has 43 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies, and the Senate which has 31...
. In 2001, a split in the party caused the UNC to lose its parliamentary majority and control of the government. Between 1991 and 1995, and again from 2001 – 2010, the UNC was the Parliamentary Opposition party. In May 2010, the UNC returned to government as the majority party in the People's Partnership
People's Partnership
The People's Partnership is a political coalition in Trinidad and Tobago between five political parties: the United National Congress, the Congress of the People, the Tobago Organization of the People, the National Joint Action Committee and the Movement for Social Justice...
, the current ruling coaltion in Trinidad and Tobago. With this victory, the UNC's political leader Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the seventh person to hold this position...
was sworn-in as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the first female to hold this position. Although many people see the UNC as the successor party to the United Labour Front
United Labour Front
The United Labour Front was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago and the main opposition party between 1976 and 1986.-History:The party was established in 1975 by union leaders in an attempt to unify the mainly black workers in the oil industry with the mainly Indian workers in the sugar...
, the UNC managed to attract much broader support than did any previous Indo-Trinidadian
Indo-Trinidadian
Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago of Indian or other South Asian ancestry.Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians has now become interchangeable with Indians or East Indians. These were people who were taken from India by the British either as workers or educated...
-dominated party. It recently won 11 of the 14 regional cooperation for the local government election held on 26 July 2010.
The party symbol is the rising sun
Rising Sun
Rising Sun may refer to sunrise. It may also refer to:-Music:*"Rising Sun" , a song written by Fats Domino* Rising Sun , 2005* Rising Sun , 2010* Rising Sun , 1986...
above the Trinity Hills
Trinity Hills
The Trinity Hills are a range of hills in southeastern Trinidad. According to legend, it is after these hills that Christopher Columbus named the island of Trinidad. Columbus had promised to name the next land he discovered after the Holy Trinity. The lookout, Alonzo Perez reported that he saw...
.
Opposition party
The party was founded in 1989 following a split in the ruling National Alliance for ReconstructionNational Alliance for Reconstruction
The National Alliance for Reconstruction was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 1991.-History:The party was established in 1986, aiming to be a multi-racial party...
. In that split 6 MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
s (including Panday) all of whom were former members of the United Labour Front left the NAR to form the Caucus for Love, Unity and Brotherhood 1988 (CLUB 88). CLUB 88 evolved into the United National Congress with Panday as leader. Panday had also been the leader of the United Labour Front
The UNC won 13 seats in the 1991 General Elections and became the official opposition. It won a 14th seat in a bye-election and gained another in 1995 when Ralph Maraj
Ralph Maraj
Ralph Maraj is a Trinidad and Tobago politician, playwright and teacher. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under a People's National Movement administration, Minister of Communication and Information Technology under a United National Congress administration, and was a founding member of...
defected from the PNM. In 1995 Hulsie Bhaggan, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Chaguanas
Chaguanas
The Borough of Chaguanas is the largest municipality 2000 census) and fastest-growing town in Trinidad and Tobago. Located in Central Trinidad about south of Port of Spain. It grew in size due to its proximity to the Woodford Lodge sugar refinery. It remained a minor town until the 1980s when it...
left the party to form the Movement for Unity and Progress
Movement for Unity and Progress
The Movement for Unity and Progress was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It contested the 1995 general elections, but received just 0.4% of the national vote and failed to win a seat. The party did not contest any further elections....
(MUP).
Governing party
In General Elections held in 1995 the UNC won 17 of 36 seats, and formed a coalition governmentCoalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
with the National Alliance for Reconstruction which won 2 seats. In exchange for his support, NAR political leader ANR Robinson
A. N. R. Robinson
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, OCC, TC was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991...
was first appointed Minister Extraordinaire and then elected President
President of Trinidad and Tobago
The President of Trinidad and Tobago is the head of state of Trinidad and Tobago, and the commander in chief of its armed forces. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1976, before which the head of state was Queen Elizabeth II...
in 1997. Two PNM MPs defected from the party and supported the UNC as independent members. This gave the UNC an absolute majority, and led to deterioration in relations with the NAR.
In the 2000 elections the UNC won 19 seats forming the government outright. However, internal party elections in 2001 highlighted a rift in the party with Panday and Attorney-General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj
Ramesh Maharaj
-Early life:Mr. Maharaj had over 30 years experience in the legal profession having been admitted to practice at the English Bar in 1967. He had been in private practice as Senior Partner in the chambers of Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Company. He had also been admitted to practice as an attorney...
in effect fielding rival slates. Maharaj's slate termed itself 'Team Unity'. Panday was not challenged as Political Leader but Maharaj's slate won 21 of the 24 other executive posts. Maharaj himself was elected as the new Deputy Leader.
This did not translate into increased prestige for Maharaj in the government as Panday refused to recommend Maharaj as Acting Prime Minister in his absence. Maharaj countered by initiating investigations into charges of corruption by Panday and his supporters. Panday then reduced the ministerial portfolios of Maharaj and his supporters. This led to the defection of Maharaj; Agriculture Minister, Trevor Sudama and Information Technology Minister, Ralph Maraj
Ralph Maraj
Ralph Maraj is a Trinidad and Tobago politician, playwright and teacher. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under a People's National Movement administration, Minister of Communication and Information Technology under a United National Congress administration, and was a founding member of...
who formed the new party Team Unity
National Team Unity
National Team Unity is a political party in Trinidad and Tobago led by Human Rights lawyer and former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj....
. This led to the calling of early elections in 2001 in which the UNC were reduced to 18 seats in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago
The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The House of Representatives sits in the Red House in Port of Spain. It has 41 members, each elected to represent single-seat constituencies...
. The opposition People's National Movement, which also won 18 seats, was called upon to form the government.
Opposition again
At the last legislative electionsElections in Trinidad and Tobago
Elections in Trinidad and Tobago gives information on election and election results in Trinidad and Tobago.Trinidad and Tobago elects on national level a House of Representatives...
, 7 October 2002, the party won 46.5% of popular votes and 16 out of 36 seats in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago
The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The House of Representatives sits in the Red House in Port of Spain. It has 41 members, each elected to represent single-seat constituencies...
. This made it the opposition in parliament
Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Parliament is bicameral. It consists of the elected House of Representatives, which has 43 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies, and the Senate which has 31...
to the ruling People's National Movement
People's National Movement
The People's National Movement is the present-day opposition political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1955 by Eric Williams, it won the 1956 General Elections and went on to hold power for an unbroken 30 years. After the death of Williams in 1981 George Chambers led the party...
(PNM) government, which held the other 20 seats.
In April 2005 the UNC was further weakened when Pointe-à-Pierre
Pointe-à-Pierre
Pointe-à-Pierre is a town in Trinidad and Tobago. It lies north of San Fernando and south of Claxton Bay. It is most famous as the site of the country's largest oil refinery which is run by Petrotrin, the state-owned oil company....
MP Gillian Lucky
Gillian Lucky
Gillian Lucky is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and lawyer. Since 2001 she has been United National Congress Member of Parliament for the Pointe-à-Pierre constituency...
and San Juan
San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
San Juan is a town in Trinidad and Tobago. It lies in North Eastern Trinidad, between Barataria and St. Joseph.It is a busy town in the East-West Corridor; the centre of town is known as the Croisee. Population is 54,900 , and it is the third city of the country, larger than the capital. San Juan...
MP Fuad Khan
Fuad Khan
Dr. Fuad Khan is a Trinidad and Tobago politician. Since 1995 he has served as the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of San Juan/Barataria in the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago. Elected on a United National Congress ticket he is currently an "Independent UNC...
declared themselves to be "independent UNC members" and relocated to the Opposition backbenches
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
. On 31 May 2005, Basdeo Panday, together with his wife Oma, former UNC MP Carlos John and party financier Ishwar Galbaransingh were arrested for bribery. Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
refused bail and remained in prison for eight days.
On 2 September 2005, Panday announced that he would be willing to hand over party leadership to Winston Dookeran
Winston Dookeran
Winston Dookeran is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and economist. He currently serves as Political Leader of the Congress of the People. His term ends on July 3, 2011 when internal elections will be held to select a political leader. At a press conference on May 28, 2011, Mr. Dookeran...
(St. Augustine
Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
St. Augustine, a town on the East-West Corridor of Trinidad and Tobago, is the site of one of the four campuses of the University of the West Indies. It is located east of Curepe and west of Tunapuna....
M.P.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
) if Panday could remain on as party chairman http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-09-04/news5.html.As a result of negotiations between the two, Dookeran was nominated unopposed for the post of Political Leader and Panday was nominated unopposed for the party Chairmanship. However, both fielded rival slates for the remaining 16 executive posts. (The party had reorganized itself, reducing the executive from 25 to 18 posts, but also splitting the deputy leadership into three.)
On 2 October, Basdeo Panday's
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
slate won 12 of the posts including two of the three deputy leader positions and (after a recount) the vice-chairmanship. Dookeran's slate won the 4 remaining posts. Members of the slate backed by Dookeran have called for Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
to step down as Leader of the Opposition. Gerald Yetming
Gerald Yetming
Gerald Yetming is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and businessman. Since 2002 he has served as the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of St. Joseph in the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago for the Opposition United National Congress...
, MP for St. Joseph
Saint Joseph, Trinidad and Tobago
St. Joseph is the oldest town in Trinidad and Tobago. Originally named San José de Oruña, it served as the capital of Spanish Trinidad between 1592 and 1783....
joined the Opposition back benches in protest of Basdeo Panday's
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
failure to relinquish the position of Leader of the Opposition.
In February 2006 Panday announced that he had reconciled with Ramesh Maharaj
Ramesh Maharaj
-Early life:Mr. Maharaj had over 30 years experience in the legal profession having been admitted to practice at the English Bar in 1967. He had been in private practice as Senior Partner in the chambers of Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Company. He had also been admitted to practice as an attorney...
. Maharaj was to mark his return to the party by speaking at a party rally held at Mid-Centre Mall in Chaguanas on 19 February. At that rally Dookeran, who spoke before Maharaj, criticized his party for accepting Maharaj back in. Dookeran was roundly booed by the crowd.
On 8 March 2006, Yetming announced he was formally leaving the UNC and would serve out his term as an Independent. His chief reason was the return of Maharaj
Ramesh Maharaj
-Early life:Mr. Maharaj had over 30 years experience in the legal profession having been admitted to practice at the English Bar in 1967. He had been in private practice as Senior Partner in the chambers of Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Company. He had also been admitted to practice as an attorney...
to the UNC, a move which he opposed but which was endorsed by Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
.
As internal wranglings continued in the party it appeared that a rift between Dookeran and the Executive was deepening. Newspaper accounts indicated that pro-Panday executive and Dookeran were largely functioning independently of each other. Dookeran also suffered a loss of support as Deputy Leader Jack Warner and Roodal Moonilal (MP for Oropouche), switched sides and announced their support of Panday.
In March Senator Robin Montano had his appointment as Senator revoked by Panday. Montano had both supported Dookeran and opposed the return of Ramesh Maharaj to the UNC.
On the 24 April Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
was convicted of fraud for failing to disclose a bank account under the rules of the Integrity Act. He was sentenced to 2 years hard labour. At the UNC rally held that night Dookeran was not permitted to speak on the platform. Maharaj
Ramesh Maharaj
-Early life:Mr. Maharaj had over 30 years experience in the legal profession having been admitted to practice at the English Bar in 1967. He had been in private practice as Senior Partner in the chambers of Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Company. He had also been admitted to practice as an attorney...
, however was seated centre stage at that rally.
On the 25 April Basdeo Panday's
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
appointment as Opposition Leader was revoked by President Richards
George Maxwell Richards
George Maxwell Richards, TC, CM is the fourth President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. A chemical engineer by training, Richards was Principal of the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad in 1996. He previously worked for Shell Trinidad Ltd. before...
. On 26 April in a surprise move seven UNC MPs announced their support of Deputy Political Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the seventh person to hold this position...
as the new Opposition Leader. On 27 April Persad-Bissessar was appointed Opposition Leader and she stated that she would step aside should Panday's appeal prove successful.
The Courts released Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
on bail on Friday 28 April, on the ground of his medical ailments. Following his release on bail, he tendered his resignation as Chairman of the party on 1 May 2006. However, the UNC executive have thus far refused to accept his resignation.
In the months following, the infighting in the UNC increased. Political Leader Dookeran and the party Executive entrenched their opposing positions. Dookeran organised his own personal political apparatus and held political meetings without the Executive's consent. He also ceased to attend Executive meeting. His few allies on the executive were removed. Opposition Leader Persad-Bissessar also replaced Dookeran's supporters in the appointed Senate.
In August 2006 however Panday returned to active politics and in a public display attempted to broker a reconciliation between the two factions. This proved fruitless. Many people in the country including members of Mr. Panday's own support team privately shared the view that it was Mr. Panday who worked behind the scene to undermine Mr. Dookeran's support within the Executive of the UNC. Mr Dookeran who was the actual and legitimate Political Leader of the UNC should have the full powers that accompanies that position as articulated in the Party's Constitution.However, Mr. Dookeran's call for internal change within the UNC had a negative effect on some of the 'old guards' who felt their own position threatened. Panday and the Executive spoke about a collective leadership concept, but the culture of the UNC with Mr. Panday was opposed to that claim.
The UNC was split into two factions, with the Panday loyalists organised into a five member Leadership Council. The Leadership Council was composed of the three Deputy Leaders (Persad -Bissessar, Wade Mark, Jack Warner), the Party CEO Tim Gopeesingh and newly returned Ramesh L. Maharaj. Panday was said to have been appointed as an advisor to the Council.
On 10 September at a large rally, Dookeran announced his resignation as UNC Political Leader and the formation of a new party the Congress of the People
Congress of the People (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Congress of the People is a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It is led by Prakash Ramadhar . Its symbol is the "Circle of Circles".- History :...
, under his leadership. On 11 September Panday resumed the Chairmanship of the party.
On 3 January 2007 Panday was reinstated as Political leader of the party.
In the 5 November 2007 parliamentary
House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago
The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The House of Representatives sits in the Red House in Port of Spain. It has 41 members, each elected to represent single-seat constituencies...
elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 2007
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 5 November 2007. Nomination day was 15 October.The parties contesting the election were the incumbent People's National Movement, the official opposition United National Congress–Alliance , the Congress of the People , the Tobago United...
, the party won 29.73 % and 15 out of 41 seats.
New Political Leader
On 24 January 2010, Kamla Persad-BissessarKamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the seventh person to hold this position...
, an MP representing Siparia, was elected the new leader of the United National Congress. Her victory, with 13,932 votes over 1,359 for party founder Basdeo Panday and 1,072 for fellow challenger Ramesh Maharaj
Ramesh Maharaj
-Early life:Mr. Maharaj had over 30 years experience in the legal profession having been admitted to practice at the English Bar in 1967. He had been in private practice as Senior Partner in the chambers of Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Company. He had also been admitted to practice as an attorney...
, MP representing Tabaquite
Tabaquite
Tabaquite is a town in central Trinidad, north of Rio Claro and west of Navet.- Overview :Tabaquite is a primarily rural area and suffers from infrastructural neglect...
, made Persad-Bissessar the first female leader of a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago.
Government once more
The UNC won an outright victory in the 2010 general electionTrinidad and Tobago general election, 2010
A general election was held in Trinidad and Tobago on May 24, 2010. The date of the general elections was announced by Prime Minister Patrick Manning on April 16, 2010, via a press release. The election was called over two years earlier than required by law...
on 24 May, and Persad-Bissessar was appointed as the first ever female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. The UNC won a majority of 21 seats but they ran as a coalition with the Congress of the People
Congress of the People (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Congress of the People is a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It is led by Prakash Ramadhar . Its symbol is the "Circle of Circles".- History :...
(winning 6 seats), and the Tobago Organization of the People
Tobago Organization of the People
The Tobago Organisation of the People is an autonomist political party in Tobago formed in 2008, a members of the People's Partnership coalition. Its current leader is Ashworth Jack...
(winning 2 seats, both of Tobago's seats), giving the coalition a total of 29 seats.