Maha Sabha blanks UNC, picks Manning

THE SANATAN Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) yesterday cancelled a crime forum where Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday was carded to speak, after learning that he would not be attending. In a statement, SDMS secretary general Sat Maharaj said Panday had agreed to appear at an open forum scheduled for 7 pm yesterday evening at its St Augustine headquarters, which was to discuss the Police Reform Bills and “answer questions from the audience.” Maharaj said the SDMS learnt from a newspaper article yesterday that Panday “will instead send a UNC representative.”

“Mr Panday’s new arrangement is not acceptable to the Maha Sabha and as such we have cancelled tonight’s (last night’s) forum,” Maharaj stated. The SDMS secretary general announced, however, that Prime Minister Patrick Manning will be appearing at tonight’s Maha Sabha forum in St Augustine on the Police Reform Bills. “Not only will he deliver an address on the position of the Government, but Mr Manning will also subject himself to one hour of questions from the floor,” Maharaj said. The Prime Minister and Panday have been meeting with several groups in order to get feedback on the Bills, which will now be debated in the House of Representatives on July 2.