Ailing Panday remains indoors

BASDEO PANDAY, 73, continued to stay indoors for the sixth day yesterday, declining to even speak to close associates of the embattled United National Congress (UNC). He rested all day yesterday at his Bryan’s Gate, Phillipine home.

Speculation that Panday’s health had deteriorated since his release from the Maximum State Prison on April 24, was confirmed yesterday by MP for Fyzabad Chandresh Sharma.

“His doctor has advised him to stay at home, get plenty of rest and eat. He has also been advised to take exercise to build up his body. Panday is not a big eater. His time in prison had taken a toll on him,” Sharma told Newsday yesterday.

When contacted yesterday, Panday’s personal physician Dr Rasheed Rahaman told Newsday, “I have no comment to make. I’ve absolutely nothing to say about Mr Panday’s health.”

Sharma said that Panday would remain at home until he has recuperated fully. The politically bruised Panday resigned as chairman of the UNC on Monday night. His resignation statement was read by his daughter, Mikela Panday at a public meeting at Felicity.

Panday lost his Couva North seat and Opposition Leader’s post following his conviction and jail sentence for failing to declare a London bank account.

On Wednesday, the UNC’s executive took a decision to let the party’s rank and file determine whether to accept Panday’s resignation. Yesterday evening, the party’s parliamentary arm met to discuss the resignation issue.