Panday: I am getting on in age

He told a campaign meeting of "Patriots," his team for today’s UNC elections, "Two years ago I told my party that I am getting on in age and at 72, I cannot do the things I used to do. The party needs new, younger blood who can work 24 hours a day as I used to."

That was the reason he gave for supporting and signing the nomination papers for Winston Dookeran to contest the position.

Dookeran was nominated unopposed for the post of political leader.

Panday was speaking at the Tunapuna Hindu School in support of his team for the elections.

Panday said by giving up the political leadership position, many people thought he would just jump on a horse and ride into the sunset.

"The thing is, I don’t know if they know that the people have voted for me for the past 40 years."

Panday said although he gave up the political leadership position, he had to be around to protect Dookeran.

"The only way I can protect Dookeran is to protect the party. And the only way I can protect the party is to become chairman.

And the only way I will be respected as chairman, is to have an executive who thinks like me," said Panday. Referring to the "Progressives," which is opposing the "Patriots" in the elections, Panday noted that Jack Warner was the leader of the opposing side.

He acknowledged that Warner was his friend, but felt that Warner could not be effective as deputy political leader of the UNC, because "he is always out of the country on football business."

However, he congratulated Warner for doing a good job as an executive member of FIFA, the world football body.

Explaining why Sadiq Baksh was not a member of the Patriots to contest the post of his regular position, as party organiser, Panday said it was because Baksh claimed that he could not work with "Kamla and Sharma."

Panday said whichever side wins the elections and whomever is chosen, he is prepared to work with them, all in the interest of the survival of the UNC.

He said the focus should be on getting rid of the enemy — the Peoples’ National Movement.