Jack takes Bas to court

Jack Warner has kept his promise to take former prime minister Basdeo Panday to court for slander and he has retained Panday's former lawyer British Queen’s Counsel, Alan Newman.

Newman arrived in Trinidad Tuesday to head Warner's legal team, which comprises Anand Ramlogan and On Lalla.

Newman represented Panday at his trial on three charges of failing to declare his London bank account to the Integrity Commission in 2006. Panday was found guilty on April 24, 2006, and sentenced to two years in prison but the conviction was overturned on the basis that it may have been politically influenced.

The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial, but Panday challenged this in the Privy Council. In London, Panday was represented by Richard Clayton QC. The Law Lords ordered Panday to face a second trial, but he has filed a judicial review case challenging the retrial.

Newman also represented the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) in its case against the Government over the delay in granting a broadcast licence to Central Broadcasting Services Limited.

Warner's lawsuit against Panday stems from a statement Panday made on a radio talk show in which he suggested that the $309,000 cheque that Warner presented to the Chaguanas Borough Corporation earlier this month may have come from drug lords seeking to control Chaguanas.

Warner called in the "lowest of lows" and said he has reluctantly decided on legal redress because Panday's comments have hurt his local and international reputation.

Read the story: Jack says he'll take Panday to court...

Panday and Warner have been at loggerheads over Warner's call for change in the UNC. Panday has accused Warner of "selling out" to the PNM and the UNC executive has summoned Warner before a disciplinary committee to answer more than two dozen charges under the broad headline of bringing the party into disrepute.

Read the story: Jack sent to UNC disciplinary committee

Warner has said the executive lacks the moral and legal authority to make such a demand.

The legal action against Warner has important political implications. If Panday is convicted he could lose his Parliamentary seat and the president could rescind his appointment as leader of the opposition.