Warner invites Panday to Bahrain vs TT match

Flanked by members of the executive committee, which also included Jack Warner, at Rienzi Complex, Couva, a smug Panday said the so-called divisions were "exactly what it is....talk."

Heeding advice from political leader Winston Dookeran, deputy political leader Jack Warner attended his first meeting amid criticism levelled against Panday’s refusal to have an inquiry into a recount which saw Gerald Yetming lose the vice chairmanship position to Vasant Bharath.

But it was a beaming Panday, gesturing to some of the executive members, who told the media — "What you see sitting here; certainly the facts are staring you in the face, aren’t they."

Asked about the absence of Oropouche MP, Dr Roodal Moonilal, and St Joseph MP, Gerald Yetming, from what was dubbed a "healing meeting," Panday said, "Dr Moonilal sent an excuse. I think he’s teaching at university tonight." Dookeran then announced that Yetming had informed him about his non-attendance, but there was no adverse comment to this from Panday, who said, "it was a very successful meeting which had produced many useful ideas on the way forward for the party.

The main purpose of the meeting was, we recognise, that in an exercise such as the one upon which we recently embarked, an unusual exercise in democracy, there would be need for a healing process. And at that meeting, all the candidates who contested suggested ways on how we should proceed with this healing process. Many views were expressed and many ideas were expressed. It was a very pleasant meeting indeed."

At the meeting, Dookeran described his walkabouts, which started in the Marabella and Williamsville areas last Friday and Saturday, as "very positive." Many people, Dookeran added, "gave me their own assessments of what their concerns are for the party and for the country." After the meeting, both Panday and Warner exchanged warm handshakes. Warner invited Panday to a play-off match between Trinidad and Tobago and Bahrain in November at the National Stadium.