Consituents say time for Panday and Ramanth to resign

Constituents of Couva North and South are angry with their Parliamentary representatives, Basdeo Panday and Kelvin Ramnath, who refused to support the leader of the Opposition in Parliament on Friday when her motion to debate the UDeCOTT matter went to a vote.

Both MPs abstained and the motion failed. Panday has justified his action, saying that Kamla Persad-Bissessar did not discuss the motion with him and he didn't know what she was going to say, so he refused could not vote for the motion.

And Ramnath told Newsday Opposition Chief Whip Jack Warner and Persad-Bissessar must take the blame for what happened, saying both of them had been embarrassed by the "incompetence and vindictiveness".

But the fact that two founders of the United National Congress (UNC) refused to support the party in such a critical matter is causing anger among supporters who say their MPs not only betrayed the party but they betrayed the trust constituents had placed in them.

And they want Panday and Ramnath to resign immediately and let the people choose new representatives in a byelection.

Newsday said it polled constituents and the consensus was that people are hurt, angry and embarassed because of the behaviour of their MPs, describing them as acting like "two little spoilt children."

Newsday quoted one resident as saying, "I argue with everybody about Basdeo Panday because he do more for the sugar workers and the people of central Trinidad than anybody else but after what he did...I think it is time he really goes."

Another Couva resident had this to say about Panday: "All of the time, you preaching unity, but when is time to show true unity and support the same party you like to say that you founded, you vote against it...they have to find a way to throw him out."

Another person with whom Newsday spoke, suggested that Panday wants to deal only with his personal agenda.

"If he was really concerned about the party he would have supported the party because this Calder Hart issue is a big issue. It’s a national issue and because he did not support it shows that he is only concerned about his own personal issues and that is bad."

One of Panday's most loyal supporters, Orlando Nagaessar, who resigned as chairman of Panday's Couva North constituency is now saying his move was justified.

"We were telling Mr Panday that he should accept Mrs Persad-Bissessar as the new leader and he should work with her to build the party so it was very disappointing what he did on Friday and we as an executive could not and will never support that kind of behaviour,” Nagessar told Newsday.

Nagessar said Panday's selfish behaviour would only drive people away from him and solidify the support of the membership behind Persad-Bissessar.

“You used to criticise Mr Calder Hart and called for an inquiry into UDeCOTT and now when you have enough evidence to force a debate, you vote against it...that was a disaster,” Nagessar told the paper.

Read the Sunday Express editorial: Panday the spolier