‘Is war yuh want, war yuh go get’

OPPOSITION Leader Basdeo Panday on Monday promised to “mash-up Parliament” if Speaker Barry Sinanan continues to treat Opposition parliamentarians like “errant schoolchildren.” Speaking to a boisterous crowd at the UNC’s Monday Night Public Forum at Dumfries Road, Hermitage Village, Panday declared: “The Speaker wants war? He will get war!” During last Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Sinanan ruled against Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal who attempted to have the House debate recent flooding as a matter of urgent public importance. The Speaker said the matter did not qualify as a definite matter of urgent importance.

This ruling caused an uproar in the Opposition benches with some members accusing Sinanan of censorship. The Speaker, in attempting to restore order, precipitated a mini-walk out of several UNC representatives after Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath was ordered to leave the chamber. Panday told supporters at the Monday meeting: “I want to warn him now ... here and now. If the Speaker behaves in this way again, one of two things will happen. Either the Speaker leaves or Parliament mash up!” Panday called on supporters to rally around their elected representatives, urging them: “When that clash comes in Parliament, you will support us.”

The Opposition Leader also wondered “how much briefs Government giving to Barry Sinanan’s former law office.” Panday also lashed out at Government’s inability to deal with the perennial flooding problem, saying flooding was not an “act of God.” “Flooding is an act of man who fails to clean the drains,” he said, noting that the average annual rainfall was over 73 inches and the onus is on the relevant Government Ministries to “prepare for drains to be cleaned.” He said with rising food prices coupled with general feelings of unhappiness, the 2007 elections will “come like a thief in the night” and sweep the ruling party out of office. Also addressing the meeting were Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath and Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal.