Panday: Let PNM clean its mess

LEADER of the Opposition, Basdeo Panday, said the responsibility fell to the ruling PNM to put its own house in order, in light of charges by PNM councillor Dansam Dhansook that he bribed Minister of Energy, Eric Williams, and former minister of works, Franklin Khan. Newsday yesterday posed the question — when would the UNC ask the Canadian government to probe Talisman in light of the failure of Minister of the Energy Eric Williams to resign? Panday replied, “The UNC believes the PNM must clean up its own mess, although we have a right to comment on it.”

He also said he found it very strange that Prime Minister Patrick Manning should support the resignation of former minister of works, Franklin Khan, but not seek the resignation of other ministers who were currently under probe. “Let him tell the country why there is such ambivalence,” said Panday. He vowed to continue to bring to Parliament any information obtained on corruption in the Government.

Did he think Khan should now resign as chairman of the PNM? “That’s the PNM’s business. They must decide who is to be their chairman, and general-secretary and so forth.” Panday reiterated his recent charges that Government was planning to arrest certain top UNC members. “The pattern has been that when the PNM has its back against the wall, it uses diversionary tactics. We suspect they will arrest UNC people on trumped-up charges.”