Panday, Dookeran and Kamla to meet President Richards today
Opposition Leader and UNC Chairman Basdeo Panday, Political Leader Winston Dookeran and Deputy Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will meet with President George Maxwell Richards today at 11 am to discuss the Opposition’s concerns about the Elections and Boundaries Commission. At the end of last year, Panday had written to Richards, requesting that the President revoke three recent appointments to the EBC. Panday claimed that all three persons — EBC Chairman, Norbert Masson, former ambassador Corrine McKnight and Kenneth Lynch — "had clear and overt links to the ruling party." He said this did not augur well for public confidence and trust in the integrity and independence of EBC. Members of EBC are appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader. Panday had said in his letter that the failure to revoke the appointments will constitute "a serious assault on peace, stability and independence and good government of the fledgling democracy." Sources said that the Opposition is expected to raise other issues of concern, such as the Vernon Paul issue. The President can, on his own volition, appoint a Commission of Inquiry into any matter. It is the first such meeting between the President and the Opposition since he (Richards) was appointed to office.
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"Panday, Dookeran and Kamla to meet President Richards today"