Kamla and Dookeran meet today

Persad-Bissessar said yesterday that the meeting which was due to take place on Wednesday night at Dookeran’s home did not come off, despite attempts on her part to contact Dookeran that night.

She said however that she spoke with Dookeran yesterday and he suggested that since they would both be in Parliament, they could meet this afternoon instead. She said no specific time had been set for the meeting.

Today Persad-Bissessar takes up her duties for the first time in the Parliament as Opposition Leader. She will now occupy the seat formerly reserved for Panday — right next to the Chief Whip (Ganga Singh) and directly opposite the Prime Minister. Next to her will be Political Leader Winston Dookeran and after him, Panday’s name plate — the Couva North MP label — will be placed. Panday who is under a two-year sentence is unable to perform his functions as MP, and therefore cannot attend sittings of Parliament.

Party sources said yesterday that a deliberate decision was taken not to put Panday’s name plate right next to Persad-Bissessar, because it would have meant that there was this “big empty space” between herself and the Political Leader, whose seat is next. “It was more prudent Mr Panday’s name plate after Dookeran,” the source stated. The party up to yesterday appeared not to have informed the Parliament of the full details of the seating arrangement.

House Speaker Barry Sinanan told Newsday that according to custom, the Chief Whip occupies the first seat in the front bench, followed by the Opposition Leader. Asked where Panday’s name plate would go, Sinanan said, “That is the $64 million question.” He said it was a party matter and the Parliament took directions from the Chief Whip, who was in turn guided by the Political Leader.