No meeting yet

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday disclosed that he will meet with Prime Minister Patrick Manning at least 72 hours before the Police Service Reform Bills are debated in the Senate on June 29.  Panday made the disclosure following two hours of talks with the leadership of the Police Service Second Division at his Port-of-Spain office yesterday, which seemingly enlightened the Opposition and lawmen about the Bills but neither side was willing to say whether or not they supported their passage in the Senate.

Panday told reporters that the UNC will be meeting daily this week with different groups to discuss the Bills and their implications for Trinidad and Tobago. He explained it would be pointless for him to meet with Manning until those deliberations are concluded on Friday and this suggestion has been advanced to the Prime Minister.  Panday said he was willing to meet with Manning anytime after Friday and hinted that discussions could even be held 24 hours or less before the Bills are debated in the Senate. Following discussions with Manning behind the Speaker’s chair in Parliament on Friday, Panday said he agreed that they should meet to discuss the country’s crime situation and how the Bills could positively impact on it. Asked whether the UNC and the Second Division reached a common position about supporting or not supporting the Bills, Panday said he did not want to prejudice talks with other groups this week and declined comment.  The UNC leader added that the Opposition’s views about the legislation were well known to the public. The Opposition has claimed there are insufficient safeguards in the Bills to prevent the Government from manipulating the police for political purposes.

Second Division president, Insp Christopher Holder, shared Panday’s view that the talks were enlightening to both sides and while the police recognised the need for legislation to properly manage the Service, he declined to say whether or not his group was supporting the Bills. Holder said both sides had achieved their objectives and had “a better understanding” about matters pertaining to the Bills. The Second Division president has publicly expressed concern about the operations of the Police Service being politically influenced. Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh dismissed reports that business representatives would blank talks in Port-of-Spain today with the UNC in favour of similar talks in San Fernando with the Prime Minister (also today). Singh claimed that while the UNC invited all business people, Manning would be meeting with a “select” group of business people today in San Fernando. Panday said he did not believe today’s meetings would conflict, resulting in more business people attending one meeting as opposed to the other.