Manning congratulates new UNC leadership; recognizes Panday's contribution to T&T

Basdeo Panday returned to Parliament Friday as leader of the opposition and exchanged smiles with the new leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar but was less generous with Jack Warner, who was elected chairman in last Sunday's internal election.

Persad-Bissessar won the leadership in a huge landslide getting over 13,000 votes to Panday's 1,349. Since then there has been speculation of a fight for the post of opposition leader.

Panday still has the confidence of the majority of opposition MPs. However, as party leader, Persad-Bissessar will be responsible for the UNC's affairs.

It was persad-Bissessar's first appearance in Parliament since her election as UNC leader and Prime Minister Patrick Manning congratulated her and her colleagues Jack Warner, the new UNC chairman and Dr Roodal Moonilal, who was elected as one of the party's three deputy leaders.

Manning digressed with the business of the House, which was the debate on the Prisons (amendment) Bill.

“Mr Speaker, I rise to make a very brief intervention in this debate...to congratulate the very distinguished member for Siparia on her election to the position as the political leader of her political party and to ascending to the ranks of political leadership in the country...and to wish her well in her future endeavours,” he said.

Manning added, “I’d like to congratulate the Member for Chaguanas West on attaining the exalted office of chairman of his own political organisation and to wish him well.

“I would also like to congratulate the member for Oropouche East who distinguished himself on being the lone survivor...He has done very well.”

He didn't spell it out but Manning was referring to the wholesale defeat of the team lead by the opposition leader. Moonilal was the only candidate to win a post.

Manning also reserved some time for former Prime Minister Bassdeo Panday.

"To my good friend, the member for Couva North, I think that he has made a significant contribution to the country’s development...At some appropriate time, I hope that the Parliament recognise it.”

The comment brough desk-thumping approval from both sides of the House. Panday himself though he had the final word: “I do not intend to die just yet.”

But Manning was not done: "I was very careful in my choice of words Mr Speaker not to suggest that my friend was dead, dying or in any stage that was suggesting that he was not in full control of all his faculties.

"The political life of the country is not static and never will be and time marches on and I have no doubt that in years to come similar comments might well be made about me.

"Time marches on. Time marches on, Mr Speaker, and it is the hallmark of a civilised Parliament and a civilised country that we recognise contributions regardless of the political perspective from which we come."