Tag Archives: Basdeo Panday

Announce election date now!

Prime Minister Patrick Manning
Prime Minister Patrick Manning
Announce election date
PRESIDENT of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) Angella Persad yesterday urged Prime Minister Patrick Manning to announce the date of the general election “as soon as possible” as she warned that uncertainty over the date is affecting private sector investment.

…Chamber calls on Manning: Announce election date now
Prime Minister Patrick Manning has evaded any questions posed to him about the election, saying “no comment at this time. I spoke to you every day of the week so far.”
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Manning’s election gambit

By Raffique Shah
April 11, 2010

PM Patrick ManningFIRST, let’s cut the bull over Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s reasons for calling a mid-term general election. The United National Congress (UNC) motion of no-confidence in the PM, which he cited as one reason, was doomed to fail-unless he feared his own members voting against him. There was no cause for concern or unpleasant surprises.
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Can they count?

By Raffique Shah
April 04, 2010

PNMTHE past two weekends were rather unusual ones. Easter weekend started off last Thursday with Holy Thursday, which was also April Fools’ Day. On Good Friday, while practising Christians solemnly commemorated Christ’s crucifixion, many citizens were beating up on ‘bobolees’.
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Geezers’ promoting rage and war

By Raffique Shah
March 21, 2010

Basdeo Panday and Patrick ManningA seething rage has gripped this country in a manner we have never before seen. It’s frightening. Ever since I was a boy, I learned that the vast majority of our people have what I can only describe as a delightful sense of humour. But for a few ‘sourpusses’, we laugh at everything-from ourselves to pranks people play on us to remarks made by others that we find hilarious. For all our shortcomings, our weaknesses, Trinidadians and Tobagonians are generally a fun people.
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Well a Woman is Almost There

So wha bout the politics now?

By Corey Gilkes
March 02, 2010
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Kamla Persad-BissessarOn the 24th January an interesting but not unexpected shift in the politics occurred when Kamla Persad-Bissessar was voted in as political leader of the United National Congress dethroning the charismatic veteran leader and founder of the party, Basdeo Panday. This paved the way for her being sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on the 25th February. Kamla’s victory is significant in more ways than one. For well over fifty years there have been women figuring in one way or another in the political world of Trinidad and Tobago. Significant strides have been made by such figures as Audrey Jeffers, Gertrude Kirton, Muriel Donawa-McDavidson and Jean Pierre, to name but a few and while in the past there have been women appointed by the Prime Minister to function in his capacity in his absence, never before have we seen a woman elected to lead a political party with the likelihood that she may also be elected as the country’s next Prime Minister.
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Ghosts in Panday’s political afterlife

Former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday
Former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday
By Raffique Shah
February 28, 2010

THE tide of events often disrupts the best laid plans of columnists. I promised readers last week that I would today conclude my take on a ‘dying Carnival’. I wanted to share my thoughts on the few remaining bright sparks in the festival-the effervescent young pannists, calypsonians Kurt Allen, Brian London and Kizzie Ruiz, and dedicated cultural activists who refuse to allow our Carnival to descend into the abyss of nothingness.
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Kamla’s First Day in Parliament as Opposition Leader

Kamla's First Day in Parliament as Opposition Leader - Panday prefers back bench
Kamla's First Day in Parliament as Opposition Leader
PNM salutes Bas in House
Former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday defied the order of UNC chief whip Jack Warner and stuck to his word to occupy a backbench seat in the Parliament yesterday.

Bas disappoints Kamla
FORMER Opposition Leader, Couva North MP Basdeo Panday, sat on the Opposition back- bench yesterday, ignoring a call by his successor Kamla Persad-Bissessar to stay on the front bench next to her.
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Kamla is the New Opposition Leader

President George Maxwell Richards Appoints Kamla Persad-Bissessar the Leader of the Opposition
President George Maxwell Richards Appoints Kamla Persad-Bissessar the Leader of the Opposition
One step to govt
She gave an address to supporters and reporters moments after being given her instrument of appointment at President’s House, St Ann’s by President George Maxwell Richards who called it “a most historic occasion”.

Long journey to the top
Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday replaced her ‘political guru’, Basdeo Panday, as Opposition Leader-a position she now adds to an impressive resume.
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Tim makes eight…Panday disappointed

Kamla says she has majority support for Opposition Leader post

By Juhel Browne
February 21, 2010 – trinidadexpress.com

Kamla Persad-BissessarSiparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday declared she has secured the support of the majority of the 15 Opposition MPs she requires to replace Couva North MP Basdeo Panday as opposition leader.

Persad-Bissessar, who was elected as the United National Congress’ (UNC) political leader in the party’s January 24 internal elections, made her declaration shortly after Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh announced his support for her as opposition leader yesterday morning.
Continue reading Tim makes eight…Panday disappointed

Panday to form his own party

By Kimberly Mackhan
February 17, 2010 – guardian.co.tt
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Basdeo PandayAttorney Ricky Harnanan has been mandated to pinpoint the requirements that Basdeo Panday would need to form another political party, and maintain his position as Leader of the Opposition, according to a well-placed informant.

“Ricky has been asked to prepare a constitution (for Panday’s proposed party) for consideration, in consultation with Ramesh Maharaj, and the discussions with Ramesh have been spearheaded by Kelvin (Ramnath),” said the informant, who was close to Panday. “It includes Ramesh being made chief whip and deputy political leader and political leader-in-waiting (of Panday’s new party).”
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