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Former Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister sentenced to jail
From CMC News - January 7, 2007:
AG demands report from Police Commissioner on
search of Panday’s home
Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:12:00
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC - Trinidad and
Tobago’s Attorney General John Jeremie is demanding from Commissioner of
Police Trevor Paul a comprehensive report "within 48 hours" of the
circumstances surrounding the search of the home of former prime minister
Basdeo Panday.
In a letter to Paul dated January 5, the
Attorney General said that while he has every confidence in the Police
Service, "I remain troubled at the circumstances surrounding this last
search."
Panday’s San Fernando home was searched by
police attached to the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau last Thursday and
the newly re-installed leader of the opposition United National Congress said
he was struck on the forearm when one of the cops pushed a door on him.
He also alleged that it was part of a plan
by the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) government to persecute him.
But in his letter to the Police
Commissioner, the Jeremie said he had in the past expressed concern about the
police’s strict compliance with the rulings of the court and the individual
sanction of a court in respect of searches.
Jeremie said he learnt of the execution of
the search warrant Thursday evening and reminded the Commissioner that he had
"occasion in the past to draw your attention to the protection of the
law, due process and related constitutional safeguards which are provided for
by the Constitution and which now have a direct bearing on the execution of
search warrants by the police".
He said it was in this context that he was
requesting a comprehensive report on the matter.
In an immediate response, Panday said the
Jeremie’s letter was strange because the Anti-Corruption Investigations
Bureau, which falls under his jurisdiction, would have been acting on his
behalf.
Panday said the AG’s letter had not
changed his position that it was the PNM which directed the search on his
premises.
He said when the police officers came to his
home they initially did not allow him to contact his attorneys. He also
claimed that he was assaulted when one of the officers shoved the door on his
arm.
The former prime minister who was recently
re-installed as leader of the opposition United National Congress is out on
bail pending an appeal of his conviction and sentence for making false
declarations to the Integrity Commission about his assets.
From the BBC - April 24, 2006: Two years in jail with hard labour - that's the stiff sentence handed down by a judge in Trinidad to the leader of the opposition Basdeo Panday.
The judge found Mr Panday guilty of deliberately failing to declare as part of his assets when he was prime minister, a London bank account.
Mr Panday's lawyers had argued that he did not consider the account to be his but that of his wife and daughters.
Our reporter Tony Fraser, in court when the sentenced was passed, said Mr Panday appeared momentarily stunned by the verdict.
" (He) stood still in the dock, his face flushed red, turning only to shake the hand of his lawyer as he was led out of the court".
Fines, jail and hard labour
Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls imposed the statutory TT$ 20,000 fine on each of
the three counts and a two year jail sentence with hard labour.
The fines and sentences will run concurrently, so Mr. Panday will serve two years and have to pay a fine of TT$20,000.
He'll serve another three years if he fails to pay the fine.
In addition the chief magistrate ruled that Mr Panday must pay the sums of money in the account for each year he was charged for not making the declaration.
If he doesn't pay up, the magistrate ruled, the state would then be a in a position to seize his assets to the value of the sums in the account.
That's a total of 160,000 pounds sterling (TT$1.5 million).
The magistrate also denied bail to Mr Panday after his lawyers gave notice they were going to appeal.
Momentous
Therese Mills, the editor of the Trinidad and Tobago daily Newsday, said the
verdict was momentous. "We've never had somebody at this level found guilty
in a court of law", she told BBC Caribbean.
She said people on the streets of Port of Spain were shocked. "They felt (if he had been found guilty) that they would just tap him on the wrist and that would have been that".
For only the second time ever, Newsday hit the streets Monday with an afternoon edition. The only other previous occasion was September 11th, 2001.
What the Trinidad & Tobago newspapers reported the day after
The Trinidad Guardian
April 25, 2005 stories
Panday found guilty
Decision: April 24, 2006
• Guilty on all three counts of failing to declare a London bank account to the Integrity Commission for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively, contrary to Section 27 (1)(b) of the Integrity in Public Life Act 1987
Sentence:
• Two years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each of the three counts
• The sentences are to run concurrently
• A fine of $20,000 on each count
• He is to forfeit the equivalent of £159,600.35, the total accumulated year-end balances in the account for the three years charged
• In default of these payments, he will serve a further three years’ imprisonment with hard labour
Lawyers fight for Panday’s freedom (Click above for the complete story)
Lawyers for convicted Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday will go to Port-of-Spain High Court today, where they are expected to appeal the decision handed down yesterday by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls...
Tears flow for Bas (Click above for the complete story)
There was a second’s silence as the news was absorbed. Then a whisper of shock and astonishment rang through the Eighth Magistrates' Court in Port-of-Spain yesterday, after Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls pronounced the guilty verdict...
AG’s office offers no comment (Click above for the complete story)
Attorney General John Jeremie was out of the country yesterday and issued no comment on the guilty verdict handed down against Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday on corruption charges...
Newsday Stories for April 25, 2005
London bank account (Click above for full story)
Panday jailed for 2 years...
Aftermath of Panday jailing (Click above for full story)
Bacchanal at Rienzi...
PM: expresses sorrow but (Click above for full story)
No politician is above the law...
End of the political road for Bas (Click above for full story)
MP Kelvin Ramnath tipped to replace Panday...
UNC shock at ruling (Click above for full story)
THE crestfallen faces of UNC’s top brass — deputy political leaders — Wade Mark, Jack Warner, vice-chairman Vasant Bhara
Ramesh: Grave injustice to Panday (Click above for full story)
FORMER UNC deputy political leader and attorney general Ramesh Lawrenc .
Govt ‘saddened’ by Panday’s jailing (Click above for full story)
ACTING Attorney General Camille Robinson-Regis stated yesterday that G ..
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for April 25, 2006
(Please click for full stories)
THE FULL BLOW...Spends
first night in infirmary
Parliament seat in jeopardy
'He ought to know better'
Dookeran, Panday factions square off at Rienzi Complex
Allum condemns police search of Duprey's home
Glum faces among party supporters
The Trinidad Guardian
April 26, 2005 stories
T&T’s first female Opposition Leader
Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar appeared set to make history and become T&T’s first female Opposition Leader last night, after obtaining majority support for the post from eight of the 15 Opposition MPs in the Lower House...
Dookeran ponders UNC future as Panday faction ‘kidnaps’ party
UNC Political Leader Winston Dookeran is now considering his situation with the UNC, following Monday’s directive by the party executive that he should not speak at that night’s rally in support of Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday...
Newsday Stories for April 26, 2005
UNC choose Kamla...
Panday: Sentence unduly severe...
No special treatment for Panday
Prison officials refuse Oma and daughters...
Law Lords: Manning did no wrong...
Gloom in Couva after Panday ja ...
President: Problems start with ...
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for April 27, 2006
Kamla wants to unite UNC
Questions over Panday's pension
Bail Today?Dookeran:
I will deal with obstacles
The Trinidad Guardian
April 27, 2005 story
Bas spends another night in jail
Convicted politician Basdeo Panday was made to spend another night in prison as the application to grant him bail remained undecided...
Jack tells Dookeran: Do the right thing
UNC political leader Winston Dookeran yesterday remained non-committal on whether he would resign from the post today...
‘Dookeran must speak for himself’
UNC deputy leader jack Warner has dismissed as “rubbish,” a letter penned by the UNC’s St Augustine constituency demanding that he desist from making “personal attacks” against the party’s political leader Winston Dookeran...
Newsday Stories for April 27, 2005
Kamala appointed and ready to serve...
Condemned by Dookeran supporters ...
Image of Caribbean politicians affected
Opposition Leader post was ‘Karma’
Kamla not a good choice for Leader
BBC Caribbean story for April 27, 2007
The new opposition leader in Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad Bissessar, says she wants to unify her party's warring factions.
The United National Congress party has been split between those supporting her predecessor Basdeo Panday, who was jailed this week on ethics violations, and political leader Winston Dookeran.
Mrs Persad Bisessar told BBC Caribbean that her job is a tough one: "The party is in crisis at the moment, we are in dark days and sorry times...this is going to be exceedingly challenging."
The new party leader says she feels she has what is takes to help heal the UNC as "there's no challenge that cannot be overcome".
The Trinidad Guardian
April 28, 2005 story
Pandemonium almost broke
out outside the Maximum Security Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca, mere minutes
after convicted UNC chairman Basdeo Panday was released from jail last night, on
bail granted by high court judge Anthony Carmona....
Kamla
qualified to handle post says Manning
The job of Opposition
Leader is not always easy, Prime Minister Patrick Manning cautioned yesterday...
Persad-Bissessar:
UNC not fractured
Newly-appointed Opposition
Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar says while the United National Congress is
hurting, it is not a fractured party...
Jail can’t cope with
serious illness...
UNC chairman Basdeo Panday
was yesterday granted bail in the sum of $300,000. UNC CEO Dr Tim Gopeesingh and
his wife Kamini stood as joint surety for the bail...
Newsday Stories for April 28, 2005
Docs testify in bail matter today
Panday’s health on trial...
“The issue now is a fair trial,”...
‘NEXT
ROUNDS IS MINE’ - KAMLA WANTS TO LEAD UNC
Opposition
Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has signalled her intention to contest the
position of political leader of the ...
Describing
his Executive as a “runaway horse” taking the party on an “ ...
WARNER
TO DOOKERAN: TIME TO GO ...
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for April 28, 2006
BAIL
FOR BAS
...ends
5-day stay in prison
Basdeo
Panday may stand a better chance of having his sentences reduced than convincing
the Appeal Court to quash his three criminal convictions, a High Court judge
said yesterday as he granted the former prime minister bail. »
Ganga
drops the whip
'Party
politics gone mad'
The
internal wounds of the UNC deepened yesterday with the resignation of Caroni
East MP Ganga Singh as Opposition Chief Whip. »
Kamla
walks out
Speaker
accused of breaching Orders
OPPOSITION
LEADER Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday accused House Speaker Barry Sinanan of
breaching the Standing Orders when he allowed Caroni East MP Ganga Singh to wind
up debate on a private motion while others wanted to contribute. »
UNC
Political Leader Winston Dookeran and Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran both moved
to the back bench in Parliament yesterday. »
Dookeran
moves to back bench on day of UNC firsts
UNC
political leader Winston Dookeran and Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran moved to the
back bench in Parliament, Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh resigned and
newly-appointed Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Couva South MP
Kelvin Ramnath led a major walkout of supporting MPs in parliament yesterday. »
Prime
Minister Patrick Manning said that the day will definitely go down in the
history books following the resignation of Caroni East MP Ganga Singh as
Opposition Chief Whip yesterday. »
Former
UNC member Gerald Yetming has said that the political fireworks in the
Parliament which have led to a further disintegration of the UNC are exactly as
he had predicted. »
Warner:
Kamla is UNC's 'dulahin'
BBC Caribbean story for April 28, 2007
UNC's Basdeo Panday granted bail while his party's MPs engage in open warfare in the country's parliament
The Trinidad Guardian
April 30, 2005 stories
Panday
visits doctor for check-up
One day after he came out
of prison, UNC Chairman Basdeo Panday was yesterday taken to the Southern
Medical Clinic for a medical examination by cardiologist Dr Rasheed Rahaman....
UNC chairman Basdeo Panday
returns to his party members tomorrow night, when he addresses a seven o’clock
meeting in Felicity...
Two
whips quite in order, says expert
UNC leader Winston
Dookeran’s advisory team has recommended that he appoint Oropouche MP Dr
Roodal Moonilal as chief whip in Parliament...
Dookeran
says move meant to send a message
With a 200-man turnout at his side, UNC political leader Winston Dookeran yesterday urged his followers to always pay tribute to the party’s founder and chairman Basdeo Panday...
Newsday Stories for April 28, 2005
BASDEO PANDAY’s failing health was the main
reason why he was released on $300...
A frail looking UNC Chairman and former Prime
Minister Basdeo Panday emerged f...
Drama in Red House - KAMLA VS GANGA
High drama broke out in the House of
Representatives yesterday as Kamla Persad...
‘NEXT
ROUNDS IS MINE’ - KAMLA ...
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for April 30, 2006
RAMESH
STARTED PANDAY PROBE
Former
AG commissioned investigation into London account
Publicly,
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, former attorney general and self-styled corruption
buster, struck the right chord of outrage, echoing the sentiments of the UNC
party faithful that a "grave injustice" had been done to his former
leader and Opposition chairman. »
"A
CONVICT calling the shots from inside the jail", was one of the lines
splashed on placards yesterday, as scores of United National Congress supporters
backing Political Leader Winston Dookeran pitched messages at embattled leaders
of the UNC. »
Dookeran
moves to back bench on day of UNC firsts
Newsday Stories for
May 1, 2005Panday: Speaker playing the fool
FORMER Opposition leader Basdeo Panday yesterday
declared that House Speaker B...
THE UNITED National Congress Parliamentary
caucus met yesterday morning at the...
UNC now a joke...
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for May 1, 2006
Rafeeq
presents Chief Whip letter to Dookeran
But
will he and Kamla meet?
The
man who Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar wants as Chief Whip yesterday
visited UNC political leader Winston Dookeran and personally gave him his letter
of selection. »
UNC's
constitution gives political leader the power
The
UNC constitution states that only the political leader of the party has the
power to appoint or revoke the Chief Whip of Parliament after consultation with
members of the House. »
Opposition
Leader complains to Speaker
OPPOSITION
Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has written to House Speaker Barry Sinanan
expressing her "deep concern" over his decision last Friday to allow
then Chief Whip Ganga Singh to wind up debate on a private motion when other
Opposition MPs wanted to contribute. »
Ramesh
on Panday probe: It wasn't me
BBC Caribbean story for May 1, 2007
UNC's Basdeo Panday granted bail while his party's MPs engage in open warfare in the country's parliament
The Trinidad Guardian
May 2, 2005 stories
By Gail Alexander
UNC Political leader Winston Dookeran will meet for consultations with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar tomorrow afternoon after he received a letter from her yesterday, recommending MP Hamza Rafeeq as Opposition chief whip.
Dookeran’s spokesman Nirad Tewarie indicated this yesterday afternoon after Dookeran’s receipt of the letter. It was delivered by chief whip-designate Rafeeq himself.
The letter was signed by the majority of UNC MPs at Sunday’s parliamentary caucus. This was held to choose a chief whip to replace MP Ganga Singh. He resigned last Friday and said he would go to the back bench at Friday’s upcoming Lower House session.
Persad-Bissessar said yesterday that the letter was being sent to Dookeran yesterday after all MPs had signed it. Signatures included that of MP Roodal Moonilal whom the Dookeran camp was considering for the post.
Tewarie said Dookeran had not yet decided on the issue. “He only learned of the developments about Dr Rafeeq via the media. Nor had he been contacted about the MPs caucus on Sunday,” Tewarie said.
“However, only the political leader can make an appointment to the post of chief whip. Anyway he won’t be rushing to any decision because the Lower House meets quite Friday.”
Tomorrow’s meeting between Dookeran and Persad-Bissessar will be their first official caucus since she assumed office last week. She had proposed a meeting with Dookeran immediately after obtaining her new post.
Dookeran had suggested doing this last Friday in Parliament. But both never met since UNC MPs left the House early to go to Golden Grove to meet UNC chairman Basdeo Panday who was released on bail.
Yesterday Persad-Bissessar said, “I’m sure Winston has the country’s interests at heart and I’m sure good sense will prevail.”
Meanwhile, Dookeran who said last week he would not heed deputy Jack Warner’s call to resign, plans to begin meetings with the UNC membership later this week or by early next week, Tewarie also said.
Yesterday, however, deputy Warner dismissed Dookeran’s support in the UNC saying, “If he couldn’t get more than 126 persons from his own constituency—and it was counted—to come out and walk for him on Saturday, then that tells you something about the kind of ‘support’ he has.”
Other sources said Dookeran held meetings all weekend in an effort to consolidate support. He spoke with estranged UNC MP Fuad Khan after last Friday’s Parliament session. Plans are also on the cards for him to meet with estranged MP Gillian Lucky.
His advisory team includes MPs Singh, Manohar Ramsaran and Independent MP Gerald Yetming, sources said
Maharaj’s
application
A newspaper report has raised questions among UNC members whether Ramesh
Lawrence Maharaj’s UNC membership application should be accepted by the
party’s membership committee this week, party sources admitted yesterday.
One executive source said the issue of Maharaj’s application would be dealt
with at tomorrow’s weekly UNC executive meeting.
The application is currently before the party’s membership team headed by
Sadiq Baksh. He was out of T&T yesterday and said he couldn’t hear well on
his cell phone.
Maharaj was scheduled to be among speakers at last night’s UNC meeting in
Felicity, where UNC chairman Basdeo Panday was to make his first public
appearance since being released from jail.
Maharaj, a spokesman said yesterday, was going to last night’s meeting to
respond to the newspaper report. The report stated that Maharaj had initiated
the first probe against Panday in 2001 even before the PNM Government. That was
at a time when Maharaj had fallen out with Panday in 2001.
The report stated that Maharaj quietly retained a Central London
investigating firm—Active Investigative Agency—to investigate Panday’s
London affairs including his property and bank account.
The 50-page report was sent to Maharaj under cover of confidentiality, it
also stated, noting it was unclear if Maharaj used state funds or his own to
undertake the effort. Opposition
Leader writes to C’wealth, Caricom Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has written the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association and Caricom about House Speaker Barry Sinanan’s
action against UNC MPs last Friday.
In a letter to the Speaker yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said UNC MPs as well
as herself had clearly indicated to the Speaker their desire to speak on a crime
motion.
she noted, however, that Sinanan had ruled that the debate would end with the
final contribution coming from estranged UNC MP Ganga Singh.
Noting Parliament Standing Orders 34 (1), Persad-Bissessar said the right of
an MP to address the House is sacrosanct in T&T’s democracy.
She added, “The wilful smothering of the voice of the Opposition on matters
involving the abuse of power by the Government and the alleged role of
functionaries of the governing party in a cross-border criminal enterprise is
inexcusable and indefensible.
She said, “Silencing the Opposition is tantamount to silencing the people,
a form of authoritarianism consistent with totalitarian state cultures.”
Persad-Bissessar said she was communicating the situation to the CPA and
Caricom as well as related international political organs. Mc
Leod hits out at corruption in PNM BY RADHICA SOOKRAJ
Under the blazing sun, OWTU’s President General Errol Mc Leod yesterday
lashed out at corruption within the ruling PNM, during the culmination of San
Fernando’s historic May Day march.
Once again, he shot criticism at Prime Minister Patrick Manning for spending
$55 million to refurbish the Palo Seco bungalows.
Delivering the feature address at the rally following the march, Mc Leod said
he has already consulted with his attorneys about corruption within state
boards.
He said the T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC), has been functioning
without a board.
“We have asked our lawyers to advise us, as T&TEC is perhaps operating
illegally. It does not have a board under Section 54:17 of the constitution,”
Mc Leod said.
He said while politicking is continuing and cottage meetings are springing up
all over the place, illegal T&TEC contracts are being given out to put up
street lights.
“The former chairman is perhaps still performing in the post of executive
chairman and he talks about the street lighting project. There are a number of
contractors who don’t know nothing about the work and in their contracts they
award $800 to install one street light,” Mc Leod alleged.
On the issue of the bungalows, Mc Leod said the $55 million could have been
used to construct new buildings.
“We are saying that we must be given equitable treatment. Instead, we are
hearing that they have spent $55 million to refurbish 17 termite-ridden
buildings in Santa Flora to facilitate a weekend retreat,” Mc Leod said.
He said the OWTU would not engage in any retreat.
“I will take part in workshops. I will not be part of any retreat. I want
us to organise ourselves so that we can put every one of these blood-suckers in
retreat. They are sucking the blood of our country,” Mc Leod said.
He said Petrotrin officials were refusing to buy a tug to do bunkering.
“They refuse to refurbish the NP Unity and the Enterprise to make it
seaworthy. Yet, they are spending so much money,” Mc Leod said.
On the issue of the Chatham smelter, Mc Leod urged citizens to protest
against the smelter.
“Why Manning don’t put the smelter where the sun don’t shine?” Mc
Leod asked, as the crowd went up in applause. He said that the corruption in
T&T must be exposed for the good of all citizens.
Newsday Stories for
May 2, 2005FORMER PRIME MINISTER Basdeo Panday has resigned as chairman of the UNC....
IN AN apparent attempt at disproving claims that he did not support former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday during his (Panday) period of difficulty, UNC Political Leader Winston Dookeran visited Panday, at his home on Sunday afternoon.
BBC Caribbean story for May 2, 2007
The Trinidad Guardian
May 3, 2005 stories
UNC execs want Panday to stay
By Gail Alexander
UNC executive members, refusing to accept former chairman Basdeo Panday’s resignation, have convened an emergency meeting today to deal with the issue.
Panday’s decision to bow out of electoral politics elicited a hushed reaction from the crowd at Monday night’s UNC meeting in Felicity, Chaguanas, where his daughter Mikela read a message he had sent.
The party’s vice-chairman Vasant Bharat is acting as chairman in the interim. Bharat said the party received the resignation on Monday.
Monday night’s announcement proclaimed the end of Panday’s involvement in electoral politics since his entry in the mid-1960s with the Workers and Farmers’ Party.
He said he would be entering a new phase of politics at a higher level—“the sort of politics that will determine politics.”
Monday’s announcement saw the 72-year-old leader’s political role diminish further after last week’s court verdict against him.
Immediately after that, President’s House had declared Panday’s former post of Opposition Leader vacant since he ceased functioning in the Parliament.
For now his Couva North seat remains intact.
Last Friday, in Parliament, House Speaker Barry Sinanan said Panday was not required to vacate his seat for 30 days—until May 24.
Following this, the Speaker may extend that period for further periods of 30 days. After 150 days, the House of Representatives will have to decide on further extension.
Yesterday, newly-appointed Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said her personal opinion was that she would not accept Panday’s resignation.
Deputy political leader Jack Warner also said yesterday, “Executive committee members have discussed it and we are all of the view that the executive shall not accept it. I haven’t heard any views to the contrary.”
Warner said the announcement was a bit of a shock to him.
He said the issue will be discussed at an emergency executive meeting at 5.30 pm today at Rienzi Complex in Couva.
This will be preceded by a parliamentary caucus at 4 pm.
Warner said executive members, after meeting on the issue, will also go to see Panday.
“We will do so to let him know it is premature to resign at this stage, with this timing and in these circumstances,” he said.
“His departure now will create more hitches. It may be a morally correct move, but it will not be prudent to have him go now. We don’t believe the timing is correct.
“We should have the collective wisdom of the executive on this.”
Asked about political leader Winston Dookeran’s role in the situation, Warner said, “For one, Mr Dookeran cannot be leader and chairman also; so I don’t see how this resignation will help him.
“Mr Panday hasn’t been here and he has more support in the UNC, than Mr Dookeran who has been around,” he said.
Warner was asked about a noticeably reduced number of criticisms against the Dookeran faction by speakers at Monday night’s meeting.
He said the executive did not intend to continue “wasting any more time” responding to this.
“We’ve taken a position that our priority is, was and always will be national issues,” he added.
Warner said the issue of a replacement nominee for Panday in Couva North will be dealt with “at the appropriate time...it’s on the back burner for now.”
he said.
Bharat also said, “After everyone has expressed their views on the resignation issue, we’ll still have to respect Mr Panday’s views in the matter also.
“However, I’m certain people feel he has made a tremendous contribution and I feel there may be resistance to his resignation decision,” he said.
“He’s presently convinced he’s done the right thing for the party...Whether he’ll be convinced if the party feels strongly against his decision, I don’t know.
“I personally feel Mr Panday still has a lot to offer both party and country and I feel even the most partisan of PNMites would agree if they viewed the situation objectively.”
Dookeran ducks resignation issue
UNC political leadeR Winston Dookeran spoke with former UNC chairman Basdeo Panday yesterday.
But Dookeran is staying away from commenting on Panday’s resignation from the post and Panday’s call for the party to unite.
Dookeran has reserved comment on the issue “until he and Panday are able to meet in person,” his spokesman Nirad Tewarie said yesterday.
Tewarie conveyed the information about the conversation shortly after both leaders spoke around 2 pm yesterday.
Tewarie said Dookeran and Panday have not set a date for talks.
As he did during last week’s issue involving the appointment of an Opposition Leader, Dookeran again remained incommunicado from early yesterday on the Panday resignation.
At 8 am, the reply at his house was that he wasn’t there. Nor was he at office. At 11am, his team said he was in meetings .
Sources close to Dookeran confirmed he also paid a courtesy call on Panday around 2 pm Sunday at Panday’s Palmiste home, the day before Panday resigned.
“It was merely the correct thing to do to see how he was after his incarceration. Nobody can say Mr Dookeran didn’t support Panday during his legal battles,” they added.
Dookeran is scheduled to meet with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at 2 pm today to discuss the appointment of a chief whip and other matters including co-operation.
The majority of UNC MPs on Sunday recommended Dr Hamza Rafeeq to replace former chief whip Ganga Singh.
Dookeran’s team said the appointment of a chief whip is the sole prerogative of the political leader under the UNC’s constitution.
Persad-Bissessar said yesterday the constitution was being misinterpreted since the appointment was made by the political leader in consultation with party MPs.
Dookeran, meanwhile, has launched a profile-building initiative. He addresses the T&T Manufacturers Association at 9 am today.
A meet-the-people tour which started in St Augustine yesterday continues in Rousillac today, Bejucal tomorrow, St Augustine on Friday, Oropune on Saturday and then in Chaguanas.
Yesterday, estranged UNC MP Gillian Lucky said while Dookeran had a lot of support in the UNC rank-and-file and wider population, he needed to move forward.
“If people are undecided on how they will move they will fall before they start,” she added.
She said Dookeran needed to go out and see for himself what sort of support he had. Ga
Manning expresses sadness of heart
PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning said yesterday he was saddened by Basdeo Panday’s decision to resign as chairman of the United National Congress.
The PM said so as he spoke with reporters during a tour of housing sites for former Caroni 1975 Ltd employees in central Trinidad on Tuesday.
Manning said it was “with a little bit of sadness” that he had heard that Panday had resigned from the post of UNC chairman.
Manning said he had planned to call Panday sometime yesterday or today. When asked if he was glad that Panday had resigned, Manning said in politics you take it as it comes your way.
However, Manning made it clear that Panday was his opponent and not his enemy. Manning said that after talks with Panday he would comment further on the matter.
Panday’s wife Oma told the Guardian that Panday was resting on the advice of his doctors and was not taking any calls.
Sources close to the UNC’s Couva North executive said they heard that Panday fell in the shower in prison last week and had damaged his left elbow.
The PM toured 10 sites where the Estate Management Business Development Company is developing 3,230 housing lots on 377 acres of sugar cane lands.
Manning said he was most impressed with the infrastructure being developed on the lots. (AB)
Bas stays resting at Palmiste home
A day after he resigned as chairman of the United National Congress, Basdeo Panday spent the day resting behind the walls of his posh Bryan’s Gate, Palmiste, home yesterday, without entertaining visitors or the media.
One source told the Guardian that the trauma of last week, when the 72-year-old former prime minister was convicted and sent to jail for charges arising out of an undisclosed London bank account, had taken a toll on him.
So much so, that close associates and founding members of the party who attempted to visit or make contact with him by telephone were denied access.
Instead, Panday found solace in spending time with his daughters Mikela and Nicola and his wife Oma.
When the Guardian visited the house yesterday a lone security guard stood in the front yard, saying he had been given strict instructions by family members not to allow anyone inside.
When the Guardian attempted to speak with Panday on the telephone, Mikela said that an interview with her father was not possible.
The younger Panday, in an address to hundreds of supporters in Felicity on Monday night, told party supporters her father had resigned from the chairmanship, owing to ill health.
Yesterday, she said he was resting and could not be disturbed.
A source said Panday was being kept on a strict diet and was in constant contact with his surgeon, Dr Rasheed Rahaman.
Last evening Chief Operating Officer of the party and MP for Fyzabad Chandresh Sharma said Panday was getting daily attention from health care providers, since Rahaman requested that the veteran politician get maximum rest.
Sharma said: “We were told that he must limit his activities. People from all over the world are trying to contact him. Many are begging for him to stay on, but he chose to resign.”
Assam: Some still
see maximum leader
Former UNC government minister under the UNC administration, Mervyn Assam, said in a telephone interview yesterday that Basdeo Panday’s resignation did not come as a surprise to him, since he had been calling for the 72-year-old to do so for some time now.
Despite this, Assam said that those most faithful to the former prime minister will still depend on him to direct the party.
“I made my position on that four years ago—that he should demit the leadership position. I don’t know why he decided to take on the chairmanship,” Assam said.
“The persons who are loyal to him will continue to follow his advice and directives, because they see Mr Panday as the maximum leader. But the situation is most unfortunate, because he served so well and has accomplished so much.”
UNC shocked as Panday resigns
By Adrian Boodan
The bitter-power struggle strangling the opposition UNC is expected to worsen as the party’s chairman Basdeo Panday tendered his resignation on Monday.
Panday’s resignation was announced by his daughter, Mikela Panday, at a political meeting on Monday night at Felicity, Chaguanas.
The party faithfuls, gathered in the heartland of the UNC, went immediately into shock at the announcement. Most supporters went home directly after the announcement, in a bid to come to terms with the reality of Panday’s latest move.
The elder Panday was carded to deliver the feature address. However, a gloomy-looking Mikela and her mother Oma arrived shortly after 9 pm.
The two fiddled their way through the crowd without the usual fanfare of East Indian music, tassa drumming and the regular noisy section who usually greeted the Pandays when the arrived at political meetings.
The younger Panday said doctors had advised her father to stay at home because of his ailing health.
At that point, a cloud of gloom and despair landed over the 1,700 supporters who lined the Cacandee main road for the meeting.
Panday said her father’s desire was unity within the party hierarchy.
She called on MPs and other UNC elitist to stop the infighting for rank within the party and instead concentrate on the goal of regaining political power.
Reading a speech from her father, Mikela said: “The most important thing at this present time is to retrieve our country from the clutches of the wicked and vicious PNM.
“There is only one way to do this: We must unite as we have never united before. I heard about the massive meeting you had in Debe when I was in jail and I am sure that this meeting tonight would be an equal demonstration of your strength and determination to rid this country of this menace called the PNM.
“Should they win the next election, you would have to run for your lives. Guyana under Forbes Burnham would seem like a paradise, compared to what you will have to suffer here.
“You must win, and to win you must unite. I know that you the people—the rank and file, the strength and the backbone of this party—are united.”
Panday later offloaded her father’s unexpected decision to vacate the post of chairman.
Mikela continued reading from her father’s speech: “In order that there should not be any obstacle in your path to victory, I have this morning tendered my resignation as chairman of the party. I cannot send my party into the battle of an election with the yoke of my conviction and sentence hanging around its neck.
“This does not mean that I am leaving you; I shall never leave you. Our association has been long, our love deep, our emotional ties unbreakable.
“Forty years is a long time. During that time I have been blessed—not only with your support, but the support of your father and mother, your grandfather and grandmother. I owe you a debt of gratitude that I could never repay; I shall always be there for you; until death do us part.”
In the speech, Panday said he was now leaving electoral politics for “a new kind of politics.” He called it “Politics at the highest level, and it is that politics which will determine the real politics.”
In an immediate response, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissesar said she did not have any intention to accept Panday’s resignation.
Vasant Bharat, the UNC vice-chairman, said no one could really replace Panday.
Panday will decide who will be his successor—political analyst
The role of Basdeo Panday in politics has undergone a dramatic shift, political analyst Dr John La Guerre, professor emeritus, said yesterday.
“As he himself explained, electoral politics is not the only way to influence the political process,” La Guerre added.
“I expect that given his present circumstances in relation to the various court matters as well as his evidently declining health, he would have to play a minor role anyhow.
“This doesn’t mean he doesn’t have much influence on the political developments in the Opposition camp. As you will observe, people are tripping over one another to display their loyalty to him, some even imitating his aggressive style. But in the end, it is he who will decide who will be his successor,” La Guerre added.
The present configuration may not necessarily be the final one and he would need to assure himself that the person to whom he passes the baton will have both the credibility, and the ability to assemble an alternative force to challenge the PNM in the next election, La Guerre said.
“Everyone now has to demonstrate their capacity for leadership and certainly he’ll be looking to (Winston) Dookeran as well as Kamla (Persad-Bissessar) and possibly Mr (Ramesh Lawrence) Maharaj although he doesn’t seem to want to accelerate the full return of Mr Maharaj to the party.
“He was treated as a guest speaker on Monday and the chairman duly noted he was a guest speaker.”
Newsday Stories for
May 3, 2005Family not to be disturbed. ...
SADNESS IN FELICITY
An appeal for unity.
THE UNC executive is expected to reject Basdeo Panday’s resignation when it meets in an emergency session at 5.30 pm today.
I AM SAD
SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Barry Sinanan on Monday night acknowledged receipt of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s letter regarding last Friday’s events in Parliament and the action she proposed to take against him in light of those events.
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for May 3, 2006
STAY BAS, STAYTurning point in UNC's development
Dookeran to open Indian museum
Humphrey: UNC members all want to be PM
Ramnath tells Dookeran to form his own party
Newsday Stories for
May 4, 2005FORMER Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said he would be guided by the wishes of the UNC membership in determining whether he has any future role in the UNC.
UNC POLITICAL Leader Winston Dookeran yesterday vowed to bring the warring factions in the UNC under control. Speaking with journalists at the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) headquarters in Barataria, Dookeran said he will no longer tolerate persons in the UNC attacking him.
FOLLOWING the end of the Opposition UNC’s emergency executive meeting last night at Rienzi Complex in Couva, the party’s vice-chairman Vasant Bharath announced to the media that no decision had been taken as yet on the resignation of Basdeo Panday as Party Chairman.
Where’s the long term growth?
TWO Central Trinidad UNC constituency groups have told former UNC chairman Basdeo Panday to endorse Winston Dookeran as Leader of the Opposition.
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for May 4, 2006
Let
the people decide
Panday
health woes continue
Dookeran
ready for UNC leadership
T&T hasn't seen the last of Panday
Plenty
bacchanal to come in UNC
Panday's
move will generate more infighting
Newsday Stories for
May 5, 2005MINISTER in the Ministry of Finance Conrad Enill yesterday dismissed UNC political leader Winston Dookeran’s claim that the health of the national economy was poor. Enill added that no decision was taken to increase the domestic gasoline subsidy.
CHAGUANAS MP Manohar Ramsaran has scoffed at former UNC leader Basdeo Panday’s resignation as the party’s chairman saying the entire issue was a ploy to drum up support for Panday’s triumphant return.
No formula to make Opposition parties attractive
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for May 5, 2006
Integrity
law boost
To
go or not to go
Newsday Stories for
May 6, 2005OPPOSITION leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday stressed that in contrast to former Opposition chief whip Ganga Singh, the new Chief Whip Hamza Rafeeq commands the confidence of most Opposition MPs.
IN AN APPARENT “I scratch-your-back-you-scratch-mine” move, UNC Political Leader Winston Dookeran yesterday accepted Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s nominee for Chief Whip and “requested” that she “consider” the reappointment of Robin Montano to the Senate.
WHILE the UNC national executive is unsure whether or not to accept the resignation of chairman Basdeo Panday, it is urging the party to unite in a show of appreciation for his lifelong work.
UNC political leader Winston Dookeran said the party must have just one leader, in an apparent reference to his shared leadership of the party with Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for May 6, 2006
'Fed up' Manohar leads walkout of UNC chairmen
UNC not a one-man show, says Kamla
Needless confusion over chief whips
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for May 7, 2006
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Stories for May 8, 2006
Dookeran calls for equal opportunity for Indian culture