Panday cautious on Commission of Inquiry

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday yesterday opted for caution on learning about Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate contracts awarded to two of the companies involved in the Landate affair — Emile Elias’ NH International Caribbean Limited (NHIC) and Warner Construction (the main contractor in the Landate project). At a news conference in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday, Panday dem-anded that a Commission of Inquiry be established to investigate all contracts awarded by Government to NHIC, Warner Construction and Romain and Associates. Panday said the Commission should comprise three members and hold public hearings similar to the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Project, which was vilified by the UNC as a “kangaroo court.”

At a post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall yesterday, Prime Minister Manning announced the establishment of such a Commission, but said it would focus its attention on NHIC and Warner. The Prime Minister could not say how many persons would sit on the Commission but said there was no need for Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley to resign from the Cabinet because of the charges levelled against him in the Landate controversy. Contacted about the Manning’s announcement, Panday told Newsday he was not ready to pop open the champagne bottle and start celebrating just yet. The UNC leader said he had no idea how many persons would constitute the Commission of Inquiry or what its terms of reference would be. “I would like to know (more) before I can make an informed comment (on this matter),” Panday said.