Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday says the new UNC Executive is rude to go into his Couva North constituency without consulting him.
Panday was responding to criticism levelled at him by Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner. In a news release statement yesterday, Warner said it was malicious for Panday to say he was not invited to the UNC's "Meet the Constituency Tour" which began in Couva. Defending himself, Warner said he personally handed an invitation to Panday during's Friday's sitting of Parliament.
He added: "This is a vicious untruth and an act of deceit. Mr Panday's trickery is a blatant attempt to paint the new executive in the same mold of the executive that he led, one that operated without any political integrity. "Panday's excesses are acts of desperation that come from a man who is in the twilight of his political career and has lost the support of the people and his own political credibility and appeal." But contacted on his cellular phone yesterday, Panday said he must have torn up Warner's letter, if indeed he got one.
Asked whether he had received a letter from Warner in Parliament, Panday said: "I don't want to comment on that. They are rude to come into my constituency in the first place. I should have been consulted. But its OK, let them do what they want." Pressed further, he added: "I must have torn up the letter and thrown it away, if indeed I got it." The "Meet the Constituency Tour" comes on the heels of a visit by Prime Minister Patrick Manning who toured Panday's constituency yesterday. During the meeting several residents from Couva North said it was the first time they ever had a prime ministerial visit in their area.