"Throw out the PNM now": Panday

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday says it's time for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to change their government.

And in an interview Wednesday with the Trinidad Guardian, Panday suggested that the Manning administration would fall before the next , which is due in 2012.

Panday is spending Christmas in London and is expected to return home in the first week of January to launch his campaign for reelection to the post of leader of the United National Congress (UNC).

For the first time ever he is facing a challenge for the post and it's coming from two strong contenders - Tabaquite MP Ramesh L. Maharaj and Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Persad-Bissessar has always been a loyal Panday supporter but said she believes that Panday cannot return the UNC to government and she considers it her duty to seek the leadership in order to make the changes needed to win an election.

Maharaj, who has locked horns before with Panday before and caused the fall of the UNC government in 2001, makes the same claim but says he is the only one who can win an election.
In an interview with the Guardian Panday pointed out the excesses of the Manning government and said the extravagant spending and disdain for the people are issues that could doom the PNM.

Panday predicted that the spending splurge and additional taxation would make people “more unhappy and even more restless."
He added, "There is likely to be lots more public demonstrations across the country and the Government will respond with violence.”
Panday said he expects things to get worse and urged citizens to prepare to mobilise to move the Government even before the next elections are called.

He reiterated that he has been advocating a campaign of civil disobedience and “I think the people should engage in that campaign in 2010.” However, he was adamant that any such move should be non-violent.
Panday also spoke about the January 24 UNC elections. He said he is in the process of selecting his slate of candidates.

Nomination day for the election is January 11. So far only four people have said they will run - the three leadership candidates and Jack Warner, who will run for the post of UNC chairman.