Manning: Panday is real flip-flop man

PRIME Minister Patrick Manning dubbed UNC Leader Basdeo Panday “the Original Flip Flop Man,” as he hit back at Opposition claims that he had flip-flopped in appointing a commission of inquiry into the Landate affair. Manning was addressing a PNM rally yesterday at Success-Laventille Composite School to update party supporters on his recent Budget. He related how he had complied with Opposition requests that the Landate project of Minister of Housing Dr Keith Rowley, be sent to the Integrity Commission and a Commission of Inquiry. “I hear a whimpering; They didn’t expect that.” He said the PNM was not afraid of any investigation, and even challenged: “Anybody who wants can investigate me.”

In contrast, he said, the former UNC government had refused PNM requests for a commission of inquiry into projects like the Piarco Airport Expansion, the construction of five stadia, InnCogen, Desalcott and TTPost. “They (UNC) expect we would act like them, but the UNC and PNM are two different organisations.” He read a list of policies which he said Panday had flip-flopped his stance on, including the Caribbean Court of Justice, Police Reform Bills, Landate affair, and even his personal bank account in England. To each charge the PNM crowd shouted: “Flip! Flop!” In his main speech he said the enrollment of 400 persons in the Multi-Skills Training (MUST) Programme had made an impact in the East West Corridor and had made the country a safer place. “If people can’t work by day they will work by night, and that is men and women!”