RIA TAITT Newsday - Saturday, October 21 2006
Basdeo Panday is now history as far as the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is concerned. After thirty years in the saddle as member of Parliament for Couva North, his seat becomes vacant on Monday, ending his career as an elected politician.
Confirming this yesterday was House Speaker Barry Sinanan, who speaking to Newsday during the teabreak said, “So far no member has moved to extend his (Panday) time (as a MP).”
“So if the Parliament is finished today and no member moves (a motion) he’s out. I don’t think it (a motion to have Panday’s term extended) is going to happen,” he said, adding that normally if it was to happen, it would have happened before the debate on the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order began.
Asked why no motion had been brought by the UNC MPs in the Parliament seeking to extend his life as a parliamentarian, Panday, 73, said, “First of all, I don’t want any favours from anybody. Secondly, I don’t need office to do the work I have to do.”
He said he would continue to serve the Couva North constituency. Asked about his status in TT politics now, he said that did not depend on the office he held. Panday replied, “It depends upon the work I do.”
Asked whether he felt sad to leave the legislature, Panday, who admitted that Parliament was once his ‘home’, said, “Feel sad at not being in Parliament?
“I feel invigorated in a new kind of struggle. I am now free of electoral politics. You can imagine the power that gives me. God!”
There cannot be a by-election because the vacancy falls in the last year of the parliamentary term, sources said yesterday. Asked whether he would be willing to serve as a candidate again in the next election, Panday said, “That question will have to be decided when that time reaches, I haven’t thought about it.”
Asked how he felt about his court case, Panday said, “I have seen that Mr Manning has been trying to influence the court and I can only hope that he does not succeed.”
Panday, who endorsed Winston Dookeran as political leader of the UNC, said that was “one of the biggest mistakes” he had made in his life.
Today marks 150 days since Panday was convicted for failing to declare his London bank account to the Integrity Commission. His conviction meant that under the Constitution he could not perform the functions of a member of Parliament such as attend sittings. But he was not required to vacate his seat because under the Constitution the Speaker was permitted to give to Panday a maximum extension of 150 days so he could pursue an appeal of his conviction.
After this 150 day interval, any further extension had to be done with the expressed approval of the House, via a resolution. This was not done. Because today is not a working day, Panday’s seat does not legally become vacant until Monday.
Sinanan said he wrote to Panday setting out all the conditions – that any further extension required the approval of the House, signified in writing.
Sources said the onus was then on Panday to appeal to any MP or to ask the Speaker’s assistance in getting the approval of the House.
Sinanan said any government minister could move a motion or any opposition member could seek the permission of the House to suspend the Standing Orders to allow him to move a motion for the extension.
Sources said that though Panday gives up Couva North, his power in the politics of the UNC had nothing to do with office, but with his personal charisma, which despite his condition remains fairly undiminished.
