Panday: Williams treated differently

Panday also did not dismiss the possibility of Prime Minister Patrick Manning calling snap general elections in Trinidad and Tobago soon because of corruption charges being laid against Williams and former Works and Transport Minister Franklin Khan.

Williams and Panday will both appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court today to answer fraud charges made against them.

Williams was charged on Saturday with seven counts of fraud arising out of charges made in April 2005 by PNM councillor Dansam Dhansook. Williams said he would surrender to the authorities today. Panday will appear in court to answer three charges that he failed to declare his assets in 2002 in accordance with the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000. Speaking with journalists upon his return home at Piarco International Airport, Panday said the level of treatment which the authorities meted out to Williams was very different to the kind of treatment which he and his wife Oma received when charges were made against him.

"They (police) came for my wife with AK 47s (assault rifles) and so on. Banged on my door. That does not happen with the PNM. We will see how this one plays out. In any case, once the charges are laid that’s a matter for the courts," Panday stated. Asked whether Manning may be forced to call elections earlier than anticipated because two PNM MPs are now facing corruption charges, Panday replied: "One does not know what Mr Manning will do because the only people you can predict are rational people. Mr Manning is not rational." The UNC chairman has said the party would be ready whenever Manning calls the elections.

UNC deputy political leader Wade Mark said the UNC was very concerned that in TT there appeared to be one law for the PNM and another for the UNC. He said the UNC remained very concerned that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions could be used by the PNM to further its political agenda.