Former Senator and Olympic medalist Ato Boldon says he does not believe that United National Congress interim political leader, Basdeo Panday, is the man to lead the party at this time.
By Anna Ramdass"I would say without fear that he (Panday) does not need to be where he is," Boldon said on the I 95.5 morning talk show programme yesterday.
Boldon admitted that when he joined the party last year, he was of the view that Panday was going to step down and the reins of power would be handed to former UNC leader Winston Dookeran.
"I said 'okay, if it is he (Panday) is going to step aside, I think there will emerge new leadership which can take the party away from the direction which it is now'," Boldon said.
"When I joined the Opposition, it was an Opposition where there were no convictions, it was a lot simpler than it is now."
When questioned by talk show hosts Tony Lee, Dale Enoch and Darian Marcelle if he (Boldon) came into the UNC because he thought Dookeran would be leading him, Boldon replied, "I came because I felt like Winston Dookeran and other people who are currently in the UNC represented a chance for us."
Boldon said he was very hurt when Dookeran left the UNC.
"No one was more upset about the split than I was, because I really felt that this was something in the long run that was going to be detrimental to both sides and I think very clearly it has been," he said.
However, Boldon maintained that he had utmost respect for Panday and does look up to him, but "I cannot be in a party where we are distracted, that is a big problem for me".
"I don't agree with the focus the party has now, it is too focused on an individual. That bothers me more than I had admitted," said Boldon.
When asked if he were called upon by Dookeran, now political leader of the Congress of the People (Congress), to serve in his party, Boldon replied, "At this point I am heading in the other direction. I will have to seriously consider it."
He also said he was still a member of the UNC and has a party card.
When contacted by the Express for further questions yesterday, Boldon said he had been advised not to speak on the issue.
