Panday: Bye-election is beginning of struggle

A large gathering turned out at the San Francique Primary Hindu School for the weekly Monday night forum at which Panday was the main speaker. Still sporting his recently-acquired beard, Panday said the "simple" election of a Local Government councillor, had assumed special significance. The nation, he added, had degenerated into a place where "people were running for their lives."

Panday predicted that the country could see a murder rate topping 300 by the end of 2005. Saturday’s murder in Morvant sent the murder rate to 166. But despite the fact that murder had overtaken the nation, Panday said, other violent crimes such as rape and robbery have been placed on the backburner.

Panday said, "Corruption is rampant in the PNM."

Panday called on the PNM candidate for the July 18 bye-election, Ivan Sinclair, to appraise himself of "oil rustling" at Petrotrin. Panday told supporters that they should send a strong message by their votes in the bye-election, that the country is dissatisfied with the Manning administration. "This little Local Government elections. You can send the loudest of message....that you have had enough," Panday thundered.

Panday called on Siparia constituents to take the lead and vote out the PNM in the Siparia Regional Corporation. UNC candidate for the July 18 bye-election is Christine Rogers who, in her maiden address from a political platform, predicted a victory in the electoral district. The PNM has always held the Siparia East/San Francique South district which, in the last Local Government election, gave the ruling party a five-three margin over the Opposition UNC in the Siparia Council.

Rogers said that a win for the UNC would create the second tie of a Local Government body. The other tie of 4-4, occurred in the Rio Claro/Mayaro Regional Corporation which resulted in ballots being drawn which went in favour of the UNC.