Basdeo Panday shall long be remembered for his outstanding contribution to our politics. He did struggle, and made a tremendous sacrifice for the betterment of the Indo-Trini community and country as a whole. He did well as Prime Minister, but failed to manage internal conflicts and resist the seductive lure of the very parasitic oligarchy that he so vehemently condemned during his struggles. He lost political credibility in the eyes of non-UNC supporters a long time ago.
Embattled and bitter
Embattled and bitter, a whirlpool of corruption charges swirling around him, he held onto leadership of the party which he undoubtedly built on the strength of his political capital. Alas! he made one too many unforced errors. He squeezed Dookeran out and spawned the COP, without which he could never regain government. The political outcast left home, filed for divorce, and 148,000 of his sons and daughters walked. Dookeran has had the last laugh over Bas, and has been vindicated in his decision to walk. Many, in retrospect, feel that the decision to leave the UNC was a good one, as the party simply went from bad to worse under Panday's leadership. His political stocks plummeted; the PNM was gaining ground. The unspoken mantra on everyone's mind was "if we can't beat them, we might as well join them."
Panday spurned every opportunity for peaceful change. A graceful exit was simply not on the cards. He thought he could defy the odds and lead the UNC back into government. He thought people would be forced to elect him by default, as discontent with the PNM grew and Dookeran faded. The dark horse he under-estimated in the form of Kamla has run the full course. She bided her time and waited for the last lap. She timed her move well, and made the break for the finish line in a way that caught everyone sleeping. Panday was keeping an eye on Jack and Ramesh, but failed to realise that his main challenger was under his nose. Kamla's brilliance was known to many, but few thought she had the political skill to pull the rug out from beneath Panday while he was still standing on it. Hats off to her; she has achieved what no man has ever been able to accomplish before: beat Panday in his own party.
Calling Panday's bluff
The people have finally called Panday's bluff. It is not the first time the UNC had internal elections. No one dared contest the post of political leader before. Panday backed Carlos John over Ramesh and Kamla the last time around. He wanted to prove that he controlled his followers to such an extent that he could make them vote for an Afro-Trini, if he so desired. This was his unspoken command, but Carlos lost to Ramesh. He has got his wish, but in a different way. His followers have matured and opened their eyes. They voted for Jack Warner because they believed in him, and his actions spoke louder than his words. Could an Indian person be elected over an Afro-Trini backed by Manning and the PNM in an open election like this? I doubt it.
The election of Jack Warner represents a significant turning point in our racial politics. It will re-define race relations and show that sincerity and hard work can be appreciated, regardless of one's race. (The high number of votes for Wade Mark is also significant in this context.) Jack is a worker, and his quest for change in the UNC sparked a quiet revolution which gained momentum and forced the pendulum to swing. Jack spent a fortune on keeping the UNC alive and propping up Panday. Now, he has spent another fortune on sparking a political revolution that will inevitably lead to political unity. The UNC and the nation owe him a debt of gratitude for his selflessness. The time has come for Panday to hand over the reins of power and retire with some dignity. Failure to do so will result in his further political disgrace. Graciousness and statesmanship are not normally associated with Panday's political career, and this might very well be the last chance to prove that he is capable of either virtue.
Lost the moral authority
Panday has lost the moral authority to be Leader of the Opposition. Clinging to the constitution will not help. Indeed, it will devalue his political legacy and transform whatever respect and love people have left for him into disgust and anger. Those who support him in this act of political suicide and immorality will perish with him, as the party and nation will neither forgive nor forget this travesty. Love and loyalty for Panday cannot be greater than that for party and country.