Gloom in Couva after Panday jailing

When Newsday visited Panday’s normally bustling Couva North constituency office, the compound was deserted as scores of party activists had reportedly journeyed to the Port-of-Spain magistrates’ court in a show of solidarity for their embattled representative.

While a skeleton staff were left to man the phones in anticipation of a “not-guilty” verdict for the former Prime minister. This was not to be.

As word spread about Panday’s conviction, a party activist said most callers expressed shock and disappointment at the verdict which also carried a penalty of $20,000 on each charge or two years imprisonment.

“This is a sad day in the history of Trinidad and Tobago, when a former prime minister and Statesman is jailed for something that a lot of other persons are getting away scotch free,” the activiast said.

The activist observed the decision had implications for a large section of the population and also served to further marginalise supporters of the Opposition party.

At the UNC’s Rienzi Complex, Couva headquarters the mood was similarly sombre as staffers performed their duties in somewhat of a daze, while a number of interior decorators were busy moving plants into the conference hall as plans proceeded full steam ahead for a mass rally in support of the UNC chairman.

Meanwhile, throughout the constituency, the sentiments were the same with one supporter Wendy Suraj, saying prayers were now needed for both Panday and the country.

“He did not deserve that verdict because when he was in power, Mr Panday did a lot of good things, he built, roads, schools and police stations,” Suraj said.

In full agreement was another Couva resident, Brent Edmund, who described the manner of Panday’s arrest as “distasteful” given the number of other high-ranking personalities who had not filed statements to the Integrity Commission.