Manning, Panday are talking again

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday have resumed their discussions on matters pertaining to constitutional reform in Trinidad and Tobago. This was disclosed by Government and Opposition sources who said the two men continued their discussions at Whitehall on Wednesday and have agreed to meet again next week. 

Also attending the meeting were Attorney-General John Jeremie, Works Minister Franklyn Khan, Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh, UNC chairman Wade Mark and St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran. The sources described the talks as cordial but could not say how much headway was made since the first Manning-Panday meeting in February at Whitehall. Following those talks, both the Prime Minister and Panday said their discussions were exploratory and focused primarily on the process to achieve constitutional reform.

The Opposition has to date refused to support the passage of all special majority legislation in Parliament until there is constitutional reform in TT. Meanwhile, Mark told Newsday that he was unaware about Government approaching the Opposition about consultations on the country’s energy policy.  Addressing a breakfast meeting  at Paria Suites, La Romaine last week, the Prime Minister said it was high time that Government and Opposition hold joint consultations on the national energy policy. Manning added that this was crucial because certain decisions taken by the former government cost TT millions of dollars in energy revenues and the situation must never be repeated again.