Declining Indian support for UNC

THE EDITOR: I have long become immune to the ravings of Basdeo Panday and his tribe, but I must admit to great amusement at his latest attempt to excite the country. He is trying to convince us all that we should become exercised by the increase in crime and injustice, but we must not include corruption in the same context. But I am not amused by Panday’s latest attempt to discredit President “Max” Richards by deliberately distorting the sentiments expressed in the President’s Indian Arrival Day message. The purpose of this distortion is to portray President Richards as an insensitive puppet of the present administration. Even if this were true, there is nothing in the message to support Panday’s bizarre fulminations.

I was so angered by this attack on the President that I sought and obtained a copy of the actual address, kindly faxed to me by his office. After reading it, I am now convinced that Mr Panday could not have read the message when in full possession of his faculties. There is nothing but goodwill in the message, and come to think of it, perhaps what angered Panday and his minions is that it deals positively with the progress made by Indians in this country since Indentureship. There is no mention in the message of perceived discrimination, disenchantment or disenfranchisement. Panday and his less-than-articulate cardboard cut-out facsimile Wade Mark are clearly unable to cope with the rapidly declining support for the UNC by the Indians in our society who are progressing through education and hard work.

The poorly attended march on Indian Arrival Day, also boycotted by key members of the party, should send a clear message to the Panday faction of the UNC. It should be manifestly clear to hardcore UNC supporters that Bas will never again be Prime Minister of this country. It is also clear that the UNC will not be returned to office in the foreseeable future even if he demits office. It is also clear that the party’s lack of support for legislation meant to deal with the burgeoning crime rate is causing a mass defection from its ranks. But Mr Manning and the PNM should not gloat at the plight of the rapidly dwindling cadre of Panday Sycophants. This situation is not cause for complacency or celebration. A failure to deal with the crime situation could easily reverse this trend.

LYDIA GOPAUL
Curepe