President: I never ignored Panday

President George Maxwell Richards has denied ignoring Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday. At a news conference Monday on Police Service reform, Panday dubbed as a “farce” any consultation by the President with the Leader of the Opposition over the selection of the proposed Police Management Authority, remarking, “The President ignores everything I tell him.” In a statement Thursday, President Richards denied that charge. “The President wishes to give the assurance that the question of ignoring such a highly placed holder of public office does not arise, as there has been no consultation whatsoever on the matters under reference. “Neither has any advice been solicited by or proferred voluntarily to the President on any matter of public or private interest, apart from the normal consultation on appointments as stipulated in the constitution and in respect of which the President is not aware that there is any evidence of ignoring the Leader of the Opposition,” the statement added.