Basdeo Panday sporting his red beret, with Deputy Political Leader Jack Warner at his side. Panday's first run at electoral politics was in 1966 when he ran (and lost) as a candidate for the Workers and Farmers Party. He later formed the United Labour Front as an alliance of the major labour groups in Trinidad &Tobago and became Opposition Leader after the 1976 election. His various attempts of national unity put him in and out of the NAR government. He became Prime Minister in 1995 in a coalition with his former arch-rival, A.N.R. Robinson.
Personally, I think that the problems that Panday faces repeatedly stems from members of his party’s failure to correct statements and structured criticisms aimed at destroying the character of the leader of the UNC.
As a result of this failure which is meant to discredit not only Panday but the UNC in general, we find ourselves having to spend unnecessary time discussing Panday rather than keeping our nation focused on the tremendous benefit of a united group of leaders working in the best interest of T&T.
The facts regarding Panday are at variance with the insinuations.
Throughout his history his endeavours to unite the people and form a political institution representative of all the people of Trinidad have had mixed results.
In spite of the results, however, his resolve remains constant. There is the perception that he is bent on holding on to power regardless. The fact is however that it was this very same Panday who fought with members of the UNC to widen the base of the party and its leadership. These attempts, time and again, have led to tremendous fall-out within his party.
Panday as Prime Minister had the very first woman acting Prime Minister, the first Spiritual Baptist appointed to the Senate and proclaimed holidays for minority groups that before was just talk.
History will testify to much more of his achievements. It is not for me to sing his praises, just to bring some semblance of reality to the Panday factor.
The UNC Alliance will in time determine who will be the prime ministerial candidate for the party at the upcoming election. When we do so, it will be based on what is best for T&T, not based on any conspiracy to get rid of Panday.
Panday has served his country well over the years and continues to make his contribution to the politics of T&T.
Whether he stays or goes is up to him and the people who placed him in the position of leadership he now occupies.
We at the UNC Alliance have a more important task ahead of us, and that is to ensure that in a land of plenty, all our citizens enjoy a better quality of life.
Steve Alvarez | Leader, Democratic Party of T&T Member, UNC Alliance Leadership Council
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