Panday: Round one to the UNC

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday yesterday said the Prime Minister’s statement that constitutional reform was a necessity, was a victory to round one in the party’s battle and called on supporters to continue the struggle since they had 14 more battles to face. Panday noted that if he was unable to get victory in the other 14 battles, he would go straight for a “knockout.” Panday was at the time addressing party supporters at a cottage meeting held at the El Dorado Primary Hindu School, Clementy Street, El Dorado last evening. Panday pointed out that the best news announced at the Peoples National Movement’s Convention at Chaguaramas on Sunday, apart from Ralph Maraj’s return to the PNM, was Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s statement that constitutional reform cannot be avoided. Panday noted that Trinidad has all the wealth it needed to solve racial discrimination, but this can only happen if there was constitutional reform. He added, “not the type of wishy-washy reform which has plagued the country for centuries.”  He also stated that more and more people have seen the need for constitutional reform. “The struggle has now begun to bear fruit,” stated Panday.

Panday noted that although Manning had agreed that it is necessary to have constitutional reform, he still has not agreed to proportional representation. This, stated Panday, will enhance the racial divide. He noted that because of the deepening racism in TT, most people are saying yes to proportional representation. He noted that since 1974, the Hugh Wooding Commission recommended proportional representation. However, Dr Eric Williams had rejected the suggestion, as this move would have been like a dagger to the heart of the PNM. He said that 29 years later, Manning has repeated the same thing.