Senior Political Reporter
The military band was playing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” as it swung up to the Red House Parliament complex-escorting the gun carriage bearing former prime minister Basdeo Panday’s flag draped casket.
“So very fitting and appropriate (that song)” said a woman near Parliament’s entrance. That was at the start of the day’s proceedings as the gun carriage approached the Red House.
Panday, T&T’s 5th Prime Minister, yesterday began his final journey “home”–ahead of Tuesday’s funeral– with a return to the Parliament where his Government was in charge from 1995 to 2001.
And the huge number of people who lined up outside to await their turn to enter the building to view his body and pay their respects, came with myriad stories.
And everywhere Panday was given the 21st century version of a salute– upraised camera phone, capturing his last passage.
The military escort, which took Panday to the Red House, set off at 8.45 am to Sparrow’s “Memories “ at funeral march pace, the flag draped casket stark sight– compared to Panday’s joie de vivre profile– but secure on the gun carriage.
Scores of people gathered to watch, all solemn faces. The procession wound its way along Independence Square South, up Abercromby Street into the Parliament block where the casket was carried by soldiers into the Parliament’s Rotunda gallery.
Panday’s body in the open casket, dressed in a suit and with red pocket kerchief, looked pretty much his normal self (though minus his ever present glasses) , his white coiffure intact.
Mourners were allowed in batches and a line formed outside the Parliament .
Among the first entering the Rotunda to view his body, were a man who made the sign off the cross and a woman who smiled fondly when she saw the body.
By mid-morning, a line had stretched the length of the pavement outside. People comprise all ages– very elderly to teens– ethnic blends and occupations from a destitute person, labourer to top public servants, immigration officers, attorneys, Justice Gillian Lucky and others.
A middle aged man in a yellow jersey, left the building with tears falling from his eyes.
Attorney Ronald Chuckaree, standing with his mom Radica, said, “Basdeo Panday was the man they loved to hate but they also loved to love or have respect for, as he was a man of the people, a commoner who brought himself to the people’s level. That’s why so many people are here today It’s a wide cross section of class, colour, race and creed. “
Public servant Patricia Tinto of Piarco said Panday was a PM whom she loved though she’d never met him in person.
“His democratic leadership style captured me and stayed in my heart. I followed things he did which worked for T&T. I’m so grateful for that. He represented true, true leadership. I always remember how he spoke up for the people’s rights. I thank his family and party .I hope they’ll continue with that strength,” she said.
Brandon Ogeer, of San Fernando said,” Though very young. I know Mr Panday’s legacy, he’s truly an inspiration, I’m a recipient of university access. I’m very grateful for the work he started in education. Even in the public service where I work, I can see his legacy in what he did for T&T’s public servants, and I always remember his saying’ if you see me and a lion fighting, feel sorry for the lion’...’’
Fatima College student Arie Jogie, 13, with his parents, said ,”Basdeo Panday, without a doubt, was the greatest prime minister of the twin island republic of T&T, the only Hindu PM, he’ll have the first Hindu state funeral– he’s making history here– he was the most influential for the people and sugar cane workers . It wasn’t just about politics for him, it was about leading the people first, as there’s no country without the people.”
“I doubt in my lifetime in all the 197 odd countries, we’ll ever see a prime minister as good as Basdeo Panday. He was phenomenal - he really cared about people. He should get a few statues in every city,”
Next to them, PNM Port-of-Spain North activist Kieran Armoroso who’d seen Panday, said,”Bas looking real peaceful.”
Mrs Romain, of Petit Valley, said, “I came as I know Mr Panday a long time since the NAR days.”
Jennifer Walcott of Champs Fleurs added, “He was a man for everybody- no race no creed and he was just to everybody,”
Rastafarian Dwight Balfour of Gonzales said,”I hear about Bas, yes- he was trying for T&T.”
Rename airport after Bas
Downtown Owners and Merchants Association head Gregory Aboud: “I find there’s a reasonance surrounding the naming of Piarco Airport after Mr Panday. I think I remember him saying that ‘you all are criticising me and trying to pin all this blame on me but you all are going to love that airport’.
I feel it’ll be a fitting way to dispel any possible innuendo about him regarding his term in office if that airport were to be named after him. With great respect to the decision makers, I believe he’s deserving. If left to me I’d favour naming Piarco The Basdeo Panday International Airport.”
NAR STalwart Wendell Eversley: “There should be a national debate on if to name the airport after Mr Panday. For a man like Basdeo Panday we all know what he did for T&T in terms of education especially, the Dollar for Dollar programme and and laptops when they first started. But more than that in T&T in the 21st century we don’t have a cemetary for heads of State, President and PM and we should have that,”
“We should also have a full library where their documents, speeches and papers can be displayed for viewing. The country’s lost a great mind with Mr Panday, people like his style, he had an answer for every question but never stood stupidness among his own members. Mr Panday is the one responsible for where Kamla Persad-Bissessar is today.
Pooran, of San Juan, said he’d followed Panday’s politics since 1975.
“Rabbai” who said he was in the “wilderness” was a former swimmer who also praised Panday.
