The United National Congress (UNC) is one of the two major political organisations in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. 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 their own. In the 2000 General Elections the UNC won an absolute majority in Parliament. In 2001 a split in the party caused the UNC to lose its parliamentary majority. As a consequence of this the UNC lost control of the government. Between 1991 and 1995 and again since 2001 the UNC has been the Parliamentary Opposition party. 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. The President of Trinidad and Tobago is the countrys head of state and commander in chief of the countrys armed forces. ... This page lists presidents of Trinidad and Tobago. ... George Maxwell Richards, T.C., CMT, Ph. ... This page lists prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago. ... Patrick Manning Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning (born August 17, 1946) is the current Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Trinidad and Tobago and Political Leader of the Peoples National Movement (PNM). ... The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. ... The Senate is the appointed Upper House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. ... The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. ... Elections in Trinidad and Tobago gives information on election and election results in Trinidad and Tobago. ... General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 7 October 2002. ... General elections will be held in Trinidad and Tobago before January 18, 2008, though its considered likely that the election will be held in 2007. ... Political parties in Trinidad and Tobago lists political parties in Trinidad and Tobago. ... Local Government in Trinidad and Tobago is handled through 5 municipalities, 9 Regional Corporations and the Tobago House of Assembly. ... Modern Trinidad and Tobago maintains close relations with its Caribbean neighbors and major North American and European trading partners. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ... English barrister 16th century painting of a civil law notary, by Flemish painter Quentin Massys. ... A trade union or labor union is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ... The National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago from 1986-1991. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Parliamentary Opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ... Elections in Trinidad and Tobago gives information on election and election results in Trinidad and Tobago. ... The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Parliamentary Opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. ... The United Labour Front is a defunct political party in Trinidad and Tobago. ... Indo-Trinidadians are people of South Asian descent who are citizens or nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. ...

The party symbol is the rising sun above the Trinity Hills. The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. ... The Trinity Hills are a range of hills in southeastern Trinidad. ...

Opposition party

Logo of the United National Congress

The party was founded in 1989 following a split in the ruling National Alliance for Reconstruction. In that split 6 MPs (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 Image File history File links The rising sun logo of the United National Congress; this symbol of a political party is copyright, but usage of this image in article about the party appears to constitute fair use of the image. ... The National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago from 1986-1991. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ...

The UNC won 13 seats in the 1991 General Elections and became the official opposition. It won a 14^th 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). Ralph Maraj is a Trinidad and Tobago politician, playwright and teacher. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... The Borough of Chaguanas is the largest (67,433, 2000 census) and fastest-growing[1][2] town in Trinidad and Tobago. ...

Governing party

In General Elections held in 1995 the UNC won 17 of 36 seats, and formed a coalition government with the National Alliance for Recontruction which won 2 seats. In exchange for his support, NAR political leader ANR Robinson was 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. A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ... Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson (born 16 December 1926 in Calder Hall, Tobago) was President of Trinidad and Tobago from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. ... The President of Trinidad and Tobago is the countrys head of state and commander in chief of the countrys armed forces. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, a human rights lawyer, and former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, is the leader of National Team Unity, a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. ...

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. Ralph Maraj is a Trinidad and Tobago politician, playwright and teacher. ... National Team Unity is a political party in Trinidad and Tobago led by Human Rights lawyer and former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. ... The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. ...

Opposition again

At the last legislative elections, October 7, 2002, the party won 46.5% of popular votes and 16 out of 36 seats in the House of Representatives. This makes it the current opposition in parliament to the ruling People's National Movement (PNM) government, which holds the other 20 seats. A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... Elections in Trinidad and Tobago gives information on election and election results in Trinidad and Tobago. ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. ... The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. ... The Peoples National Movement is the ruling conservative political party in Trinidad and Tobago. ...

In April 2005 the UNC was further weakened when Pointe-à-Pierre MP Gillian Lucky and San Juan MP Fuad Khan declared themeselved to be "independent UNC members" and relocated to the Opposition backbenches. On May 31, 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. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pointe-à-Pierre is a town in Trinidad and Tobago. ... Gillian Lucky (born April 17, 1967) is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and lawyer. ... San Juan is a town in Trinidad and Tobago. ... Dr. Fuad Khan (born February 1, 1955) is a Trinidad and Tobago politician. ... Parliamentary Opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. ... 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. ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ...

On September 2, 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 [1].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.) September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Winston Dookeran is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and economist. ... St. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ...

On October 2, 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. October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ... Gerald Yetming (born January 4, 1945) is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and businessman. ... St. ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ...

In March 2006 Panday announced that he had reconcilled with Ramesh Maharaj. On March 8, 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. March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, a human rights lawyer, and former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, is the leader of National Team Unity, a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ...

As internal wranglings continued in the party it appeared that Dookeran was being sidelined. Newspaper accounts indicated that pro-Panday executive was ignoring Dookeran's role as Political Leader. 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. Austin Jack Warner (b. ...

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 April 24 Basdeo Panday was convicted of fraud for failing to dislose 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. April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (115th in leap years). ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ... Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, a human rights lawyer, and former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, is the leader of National Team Unity, a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. ...

On the April 25 Basdeo Panday's appointment as Opposition Leader was revoked by President Richards. On April 26 in a surprise move seven UNC MPs announced their support of Deputy Political Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the new Opposition Leader. On April 27 Persad-Bissessar was appointed Opposition Leader and she stated that she would step aside should Panday's appeal prove successful. April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (116th in leap years). ... Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ... George Maxwell Richards, T.C., CMT, Ph. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (117th in leap years). ... Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a Trinidad and Tobago politician and lawyer, was the first woman to serve as Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ...

The Courts released Basdeo Panday on TT$300,00 bail at 6:30 p.m. on Friday April 28, on the ground of his medical ailments.^[1] Following his release on bail, he tendered his resignation as Chairman of the party on May 1, 2006.^[2] However, the UNC executive have thus far refused to accept his resignation.^[3] Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (born May 25, 1933) was 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-present. ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

In the months following, the infighting in the UNC increased. Political Leader Dookeran was increasingly sidelined and vilified by the party Executive. This prompted him to organize his own personal political apparatus and to hold political meeting 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 attempted to broker a reconcilition between the two factions. This proved fruitless. Dookeran wanted the full powers that Panday had exercised while Panday and the Executive wished for a collective leadership.

This culminated in the executive removing Dookeran from his post of Political Leader, for non performance of duties, on August 28 and replacing him with 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. August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ...

Dookeran disputed the legality of his removal but this was rendered moot as on September 10 at a large rally he announced his resignation as UNC Politcal Leader and the formation of a new party the Congress of the People, under his leadership. On September 11 Panday resumed the Chairmanship of the party. September 10 is the 253rd day of the Gregorian calendar (254th in leap years). ... The Congress of the People is a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. ... September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ...

References

1. ^ Seuraj, Indarjit, Jail can’t cope with serious illness...Panday granted bail, Trinidad Guardian, April 29, 2006.
2. ^ Panday stuns crowd, Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, May 3, 2006
3. ^ Alexander, Gail, UNC execs want Panday to stay, Trinidad Guardian, May 3, 2006.

The Trinidad Guardian (together with the Sunday Guardian) is the oldest daily newspaper in Trinidad and Tobago. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Trinidad and Tobago Newsday is a daily newspaper in Trinidad and Tobago. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Trinidad Guardian (together with the Sunday Guardian) is the oldest daily newspaper in Trinidad and Tobago. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• Official Website of the United National Congress
• A Mailing list for the United National Congress
• A Mailing list for the United National Congress' Youth Arm