Panday’s brother dies at South hospital

RABINDRANATH Panday, 65, the younger brother of Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday and a former resident of London, died at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) early yesterday morning. Panday (Basdeo) is currently in India and up to yesterday afternoon could not be reached by telephone, his sister Leela Panday told Newsday. Rabindranath, affectionately called “Raj,” an electrical engineer at British Telecom, lived most of his life in London and shared a very close “brotherly love” with Panday, Newsday was told. “Raj,” who had been in Trinidad since Christmas, was rushed to SFGH around 10 pm Tuesday night, after he complained of chest pains. He underwent surgery at the Gulf View Medical Centre for suspected gall stones.

Brother Subhas said “Raj” was found to be suffering from an aneurism, an illness which affects the function of the aorta valve in the heart. Subhas said a 17-centimetre tube was inserted by Dr Ronald Henry at the St Clair Medical Centre in Port-of-Spain, last week. Around 10 pm, Panday said “Raj” complained of chest pains and began vomitting blood. He died around 1.30 am after he was warded at SFGH. He was due to return to London next week. ‘Raj,” grew up with his nine brothers and sisters at their home in St Julien Village, Princes Town. He was not married and had no children. Panday often stayed at brother “Raj’s” home at Chapter Road, Willesden Drive, London, whenever Panday and wife Oma visited London. 

“Raj” often stayed with Panday at his official residence in St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain, when the latter was Prime Minister. “Raj” attended all of Panday’s national political meetings in the three general elections he fought during his tenure as prime minister. Panday had been in London for the Christmas holidays visiting his daughters before flying off to India last week to collect an award from the Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin (International). Subhas told Newsday around 3 pm yesterday he was unsuccessful in establishing any contact with Panday in India. “If  he cannot come by the end of the week, funeral arrangements would be made and Raj will be cremated on Saturday,” Subhas said.