Panday uncomfortable to sit with Jack as Chief Whip, predicts end of UNC in 6 months

Basdeo Panday will have a new seat in Parliament on Friday but he appears to be uncomfortable with it. UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is set to take over the opposition leader's chair when Parliament meets next.

Panday left it vacant Wednesday by refusing the attend the sitting of the House of Representatives. Persad-Bissessar has dispatched a letter to President Max Richards advising him that she now has the support of the majority of the members of the opposition.

Apart from her own, the letter to the president contains the signatures of MPs Jack Warner, Harry Partap, Nizam Baksh, Winston Peters, Chandresh Sharma, Roodal Moonilal and Tim Gopeesingh.

Panday remains legally the leader of the opposition until the president revokes his appointment.

The UNC plans to keep Panday on the opposition front bench, with the UNC founder sitting on the left of the new leader.

In an interview with the Trinidad Guardian Panday expressed concerns about sitting with Chief Whip, Jack Warner.

"I find it extremely difficult to work under a chief whip who has refused to account for millions of dollars he had received on behalf of the UNC," he told the paper in reference to allegations that he has made repeatedly against Warner.

The Chagunaas MP has always denied the charge.

Panday also reiterated what he said during the campaign for the leadership of the party.

"This party has had 20 years of my blood, sweat and tears, and I will not let any international operator take it over, yet I fear the UNC will mash up over the next six months and disintegrate,” he told the paper.

The former prime minister also expressed concerns about the Congress of the People's (COP) unity meeting planned for March 7, saying he hopes the new leadership would give away all the UNC had achieved over the years.

However he assured the paper that he would not form any new party.