Panday says it is time for a revolt in T&T

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday has urged the nation to revolt against the Manning government for its attitude to the Judiciary, saying the administration is showing contempt by suggesting that an independent institution such as the Judiciary is at the same level as a government ministry.

Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira told the media on Thursday there was no discrimination in the allocation of funds to the Judiciary and that it was treated just like any other government ministry.

She was responding to questions raised by reporters in reference to Chief Justice Ivor Archie's statement on Wednesday that the budget allocated only $42 million of the $349 million requested to deal with the administration of justice for 2010.

The comparison between the two is inappropriate since a government ministry falls under the executive arm of the state and is under political control while the Judiciary is independent of any political interference.

Archie alluded to this when he criticized the draft constitution that could see a politically controlled justice minister usurping many of the key functions of the Chief Justice.

Panday said the administration adopted a "combative" approach to the Chief Justice's criticisms of the draft constitution, adding that such an attitude signals serious trouble ahead.

Speaking with the Trinidad Express, the former prime minister said the opposition has raised the same concerns highlighted by Archie about a threat to democracy and the independence of the judiciary.

Panday said Archie should be careful since "Anybody who speaks out against this Government puts themselves at risk, whether it be the media, whether it be the Opposition, whether it be the judges. This Government is trying to introduce a culture of fear in the country," he said.

He added that it is clear that "the Government intends to go to war with the judiciary or indeed anyone who disagrees with them" and suggested that the only way to address the problem is open revolt.

"This population will have to rise up against the Government. I have no doubt about that, there is going to be no other way," he said.