Panday not unhappy with UNC senators

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday yesterday declared that he was not unhappy with the performance of any UNC senator and dismissed reports of an imminent reshuffle in the Opposition’s senatorial line-up. According to Panday: “The time has come to review.” The UNC leader told Newsday the party regularly reviews the performance of its parliamentarians and the current review of Opposition senators was not brought about by the death of Arnim Smith. The 57-year-old UNC senator died last Sunday at the St Clair Medical Centre from a ruptured aorta.

Panday added that this review “will take some time” and it was premature for anyone to speculate as to which of the UNC’s six senators will be replaced. One newspaper report alleged that the UNC’s two female senators, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan and Jennifer Jones-Kernahan, may be replaced. Former UNC Ortoire/Mayaro MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters has been touted to replace Smith. Last Sunday, Peters said he would accept a senatorial post if it was offered to him but that decision lay in the hands of the UNC’s hierarchy. When contacted yesterday, Senate Minority Leader and UNC chairman Wade Mark told Newsday he was busy preparing for today’s sitting of the Upper House at 10 am. Mark said he had no comment to make on alleged reports of a UNC senatorial shake-up and Panday had already dealt thoroughly with that issue.