Panday is healthy

It was between a lawyer and a doctor that we learned that Basdeo Panday was “sick” with a bad heart and therefore could not remain in prison, convincing the sitting judge to free him. Another example that prison is not for the “high and mighty” in this country of ours.

So Panday was released from prison due to his “failing health” and “bad heart,” but there he was, jetting off to Germany courtesy Jack Warner to witness the World Cup. Football is a game that generates a lot of anxiety and excitement and if your heart is not good or strong enough, you could be risking death as had happened to two men here in Trinidad during the tournament. However, he survived (fortunately), and so he took full advantage of his “freedom” by doing some globetrotting.

For his return, the UNC as clannish and tribal as always, mobilised their supporters to come out in droves to meet the “Lord” — in blind man country, the one eyed man is definitely king. Basdeo Panday is a man who is usually buoyed by adoration and seeing this from his “disciples” (who all wanted to just touch the hem of his garments) was enough to energise him into making another foolish and reckless pronouncement about violence in the Chief Justice matter. Naturally there was the usual reference to race.

I, (and I’m sure many, many more like me) am not convinced that anything is wrong with Basdeo Panday’s heart as the doctor made it out to be, hence the reason that the yes people in the UNC executive are so desperate to have him come back into the fold. His appearance at the meeting in Couva two Saturdays ago was an indication that he is considering such a return.

He avoided making any appearance on previous platforms after his release, knowing he had no choice, considering “the state of his heart.” Certainly, he will be much more relaxed and calm in prison, he would not have to be up late at nights on the political hustings, he will be served three square meals per day and not have to do any hard labour and I’m sure he would be well protected and looked after. Therefore, what we are witnessing and hearing are definitely not the signs of an unhealthy man.

GARVIN WALTERS

Tobago