No time for 'nonsense' in talks with PM: Panday

As Basdeo Panday and Patrick Manning get together Tuesday for a consultation on matters of national importance there are conflicting reports about how the meeting came about.

Last week Panday told local media it was the prime minister who asked for the talks, adding that he could not refuse under such circumstances.

"He called me behind the Speaker's chair and said that the prime minister and the leader of the Opposition should meet on national issues," Panday said.

Read the story: Manning, Panday to meet on constitution

But media reports Tuesday quote Manning as saying that the meeting was Panday's idea "and I did not hesitate to agree with him."

Manning told reporters the discussions will be about crime and constitutional reform and that Attorney General John Jeremie will be present. He said Panday's request was timely because it coincided with the completion of his latest series of political education meetings during which he discussed the draft constitution.

There has been speculation that the talks could lead to some kind of political deal between the two men, who are both facing opposition from their respective parties.

But Panday has dismissed that as nonsense. "I do not propose to waste time on irrelevant matters. I have met with the Prime Minister on previous occasions. It is the duty of the Prime Minister in a democratic country to meet with the Leader of the Opposition on matters of national importance," Panday told the Trinidad Express.

Congress of the People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran has suggested that the talks might lead to a deal for the failed Hindu Credit Union (HCU). And political scientist Prof Selwyn Ryan called the timing of the talks "curious".

Panday told the Express, "First of all, I would say there are too many real problems in the country to be concentrating on nonsense, peripheral and irrelevant matters."

Panday said he wants his discussions to focus on problems that people face in the country today. He acknowledged that there constitutional reform requires opposition support since manning doesn't have the majority he needs to pass it.

"I believe that there is need for constitutional reform and there can’t be constitutional reform unless there is some kind of dialogue between the people and the Government. You need the vote of both sides," Panday told the paper.

He also said he would take to the table his own suggestions for dealing with constitutional reform and crime but said he cannot predict the outcome.

However he promised to update the media following the meeting. He said he has told Manning that it would not be a secret meeting.