UNC failed on Caroni and agriculture

THE EDITOR: The behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday and Opposition members in the House of Representatives on Friday October 1, reached a new low. The issue was the Caroni (1975) Ltd divestment Bill. Other than puerile “name calling” not much was offered by way of substantive arguments neither did the Opposition counter the government with its record while in government. Mr Panday and his members had a six year record of government. On the issue of Caroni (1975) Ltd and on the wider question of agriculture, they were dismal failures. It is well known that under the Panday administration the Divestment Secretariat produced a plan to deal with Caroni (1975) Ltd.

It recommended the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd and they did not think about giving retrenched workers any substantial benefits. When this was made public the response was that Panday’s plan was just a proposal which had not reached Cabinet as yet. In fact, Mr Panday’s normal response was to be diplomatic, to take a hands off approach. He never made the situation of sugar, and sugar workers, a priority during his government, and agriculture was neglected. And when reminded of his political base from which he ascended his response was that he was the government of the whole country. Basdeo Panday betrayed sugar workers while he was Prime Minister and in government.

To accuse the junior minister of being “used” is unfortunate. Did he not “use” Carlos John, Mervyn Assam, and Gillette whom he made acting Prime Minister. Where are they now? There is reference to “our people.” One trusts that they are not referring to Indo-Trinidadians since they do not have a patent on any constituency. The UNC has nothing to fall back on except the unbridled use of race to preserve its political base. They have in effect taken over the agenda which they accuse others in the party of having such as Hulsie Bhaggan, Trevor Sudama and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and of course Kelvin Ramnath “Indians For Sale Check Out Panday.” This time around it would not work. They should leave Rienzi Complex for the former sugar workers.

VIR SINGH
Barrackpore