Panday shifts gears on legislation

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday, who has led his MPs in a boycott of Government’s legislative agenda, has shifted gears a bit that could pave the way for a re-thinking of the present UNC position.

Panday disclosed on Wednesday that constitutional reform remains the UNC’s call. However, the political leader disclosed at Wednesday’s Parliamentary Caucus meeting of the party at Rienzi Complex, Couva, that he would urge the People’s National Movement administration to put the necessary mechanism in place to deal with all forms of discrimination in the country. Constituional Reform would have achieved that, he added. It was the reason why the Opposition was not supporting Government’s legislation, but Panday said on Wednesday that he wants Government to implement the Equal Opportunities Commission Act. “If the Government takes positive action to end discrimination, we will give support to the various pieces of legislation as we see fit,” Panday said.

The previous UNC Government passed the Act which has been proclaimed and assented to by His Excellency the President. Panday said that all that is left to give effect to what is now law, is appointment of members to the commission. The Opposition has taken a stance since the results of the last general election that without constitutional reform, its MPs would not support legislation in Parliament. Once such piece of legislation was the recent Anti-Kidnapping Bill which sought to deny bail by magistrates to persons charged with kidnapping.