Panday hits PNM ‘thuggery’

Leader of the Opposition, Basdeo Panday was last night strongly critical of the fight which took place yesterday in Parliament between his MP Chandresh Sharma and PNM MP Dr Keith Rowley. “It is atrocious that such a thing could happen within the precincts of Parliament,” he said. “It is indicative of the thuggery which the PNM is prepared to degenerate to in order to hold on to power.” He said he heard about the matter at a UNC caucus meeting after the sitting of the parliamentary Finance Committee. “We advised him to report the matter to the Speaker and to the police.” Panday said if Sharma did not get satisfaction from the Speaker of the House of Representatives Barry Sinanan, or from the police, he could privately take the matter to court.

Asked what sanctions he expected Parliament to impose, Panday said, “I don’t expect any, with the biased Speaker we have. It is a breach of privilege. In normal circumstances he (Rowley) would be suspended for some time, but we are not living under normal circumstances, but we are under PNM circumstances.” Panday said he didn’t have much faith in Parliament’s Committee of Privileges. “That has proven to be totally useless because the Speaker has control over it. Most or all of our democratic institutions in Trinidad and Tobago have broken down. We are in a state of semi-anarchy.”

Asked for a blow by blow account of the incident, Panday related what had been heard, saying, “I understand Mr Rowley did in fact hit Mr Shatrma three times, and threw a cup at him which smashed.” Asked if the UNC as a party would take action in this incident, he said they would rely on the country’s legal structure, including Parliament, the police and courts. “The day those institutions break down, we are at war with ourself as a people.” So how was the UNC going to feel coming to Parliament on Friday? Panday said, “We will approach our duty with courage and confidence. No one shall deter us from performing our duty for which we were elected.”