Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday says he does not expect the United National Congress’ position on the retention of the Privy Council to change, after his meeting with Prime Minister Patrick Manning tomorrow morning. Panday said this in an interview yesterday. Manning has invited Panday for closed-door talks at the Prime Minister’s residence, St Ann’s. Manning had promised more than a year ago that he intended to hold discussions with Panday to discuss, among other things, the need to have the Caribbean Court of Justice replace the Privy Council as the country’s final court of appeal.

Panday said yesterday that he can see no reason why his party’s position on that issue should change during the talks with Manning. Panday only last month identified several reasons for his continued objection to having the CCJ as this country’s highest court of appeal. He said he court lacked confidence and should be made an intermediate court instead. But Panday said he is attending the talks “with an open mind.”