Panday condemns Speaker death threat

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday yesterday condemned death threats made against the life of House Speaker Barry Sinanan. The UNC leader declared that no one should make threats against anybody to achieve any goal, political or otherwise. “Report the matter to the police,” Panday advised Sinanan. He expressed the hope that once the police were on the case, they would soon get to the bottom of the matter and bring those responsible to justice. In an exclusive Newsday story, Sinanan reported to Ag Police Commissioner Everald Snaggs that a letter was sent to his office last week and its author accused him of being someone who sided with the Black community to suppress East Indians. The letter, which reportedly bore the name and address of someone from Central Trinidad, openly condemned alleged “ethnic cleansing” at State companies such as Petrotrin, TSTT, NFM and TTEC.

The letter comes nearly two weeks after Panday was cautioned by Sinanan about his behaviour in Parliament and Panday vowed at a UNC public meeting to keep the heat on the Speaker. Panday yesterday dismissed suggestions that any UNC member could have concocted such a dastardly piece of correspondence against the Speaker. Prime Minister Patrick Manning said Government will take all steps necessary to protect Sinanan and his family. Snaggs confirmed receipt of the letter from Sinanan and said the matter was under investigation at this time.