Businessmen not giving up on Panday

LEADERS of the local business community will continue trying to convince Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday to be part of a non-partisan approach to fighting crime in Trinidad and Tobago. Following a meeting at Panday’s Port-of-Spain office on Tuesday with a delegation of businessmen, the UNC leader said he could do nothing to assist in the war against crime under the present Constitution.

Panday maintained the Opposition’s position that crime was linked to discrimination in TT and this was why constitutional reform must take place. Speaking with Newsday yesterday, TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) president Anthony Hosang (who was part of the group that met with Panday on Tuesday) said members of the business community did not feel they were wasting their breath appealing to Panday to help in the war on crime. Hosang disclosed that businessmen will “keep communicating” with the UNC leader formally and otherwise because they believe a non-partisan front is necessary to effectively deal with crime. “Business-men are made up of people from all political parties. All concerned citizens must play their part,” Hosang said. The TTMA president however hinted that convincing Panday to come around may be easier said than done. “He is very firm in his beliefs and not prepared to budge,” Hosang added.