Please unite with Panday

Speaking at an ACT Trinidad and Tobago public meeting at the Gulf View recreational ground, La Romaine yesterday, Maharaj said he and Panday discussed the state of the country given the escalating crime rate, unity within the Opposition party and the calling of general elections.

"We discussed the state of the country and we decided and gave a commitment to each other to work together in order to have unity, so that we can remove the PNM," he said.

Maharaj added: "I believe that we will have to work out a formula for unity in Trinidad and Tobago and I believe it would be worked out and I believe the country would get a serious government."

He also dismissed suggestions of personality conflicts with either Dookeran or deputy political leader, Austin Jack Warner, saying he "loved" both Panday and Dookeran but "as a matter of principle the Opposition forces must unite to rid the country of this oppressive PNM regime." Maharaj said Dookeran was being misled by two public relations persons, whom he said have convinced Dookeran that the party could win the next general elections and have urged the newly elected political leader to "get rid" of Panday and "not unite" with Ramesh.

"I am asking Mr Dookeran and Mr Warner to fire those public relations persons and listen to the people who are calling for unity in the party and who want a change in government," he said. And with Marlene Daniel, mother of 11- year old Aneisa Simon, who was killed at an Arima panyard also on the podium, he told the large crowd of supporters that in spite of Government spending $12 billion on the Ministry of National Security, crime had increased over 300 percent over the past year with some 15,000 serious crimes reported to the police.

He said Manning and his Cabinet were responsible for the "river of blood" which had engulfed the nation and lashed out at the non existent provision for the victims of crime.

Also addressing the meeting was Daniel, who said the Government was not "doing anything" about the crime situation and the police service was "hopeless."

She said not a day has passed when she did not think about her little daughter who was killed during a pan rehearsal some three months ago.