Panday ready to die for ideals
A large crowd of UNC supporters at Gasparillo Junction received a message from Basdeo Panday in his Golden Grove Maximum State prison — that their political leader was willing to die in prison for a fair society. The message was conveyed by Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar from Panday to a crowd on Wednesday night. The UNC meeting was launched as the party seeks to politicise Tuesday’s arrest of the Opposition Leader on corruption charges. A series of meetings throughout Central Trinidad and the East-West corridor have been launched this weekend. Panday, who chose to refuse the $750,000 bail, has so far spent Tuesday, Wednesday and last night at the Maximum State prison after he was arrested by police on a 25,000 pound sterling corruption charge. Panday’s absence at the Gasparillo Junction meeting, where policemen blocked off the main road to vehicular traffic, was marked by an empty chair on stage. Panday’s wife Oma, who was also charged with Panday and is on $750,000 bail, was present on stage. Panday, as reported by Persad- Bissessar, told supporters: "During my lifetime, I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the people. I have fought against domination and discrimination. I have cherished the ideals of a democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony with equal opportunities." Persad-Bissessar’s quotation of Panday’s words was greeted by loud applause. Other speakers were Wade Mark, Austin "Jack" Warner, Kelvin Ramnath, Robin Montano and Ganga Singh. They hyped the crowd which shouted anti-Manning, anti-PNM comments. Each speaker told the crowd that they were certain Panday would remain in jail until the outcome of the charges. Persad-Bissessar said Panday told her his was "an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realised. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I’m prepared to die." She added that Panday had also sent the message that because of his faith in God, the Almighty would not give him a cross too heavy to bear. "And Panday’s advice to you — do not despair!" Persad-Bissessar said. Prime Minister Patrick Manning, the Police Service and perceived corrupt practices in the PNM administration took a bashing at the meeting. Chief Whip and Caroni East MP, Ganga Singh, accused "certain police officers" of being corruptly involved with the PNM. On a similar note, Persad-Bissessar wondered why the Anti-Corruption Bureau, manned by police officers, falls under the portfolio of the Attorney-General. Saying that it was wrong in law, she called on AG John Jeremie to make public the terms of reference of the bureau.
Comments
"Panday ready to die for ideals"