Senior Reporter
kay-marie.fletcher@guardian.co.tt
Despite admitting they did not have an amiable relationship in his later years, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar paid tribute to late former prime minister and her former boss Basdeo Panday yesterday.
After leading her team of Opposition members to view Panday’s body lying in state at the Rotunda of the Parliament, Persad-Bissessar said his legacy will live on as he did a lot for the country.
Persad-Bissessar said, “It is true, it is not a secret, in his later years there was not really a cordial relationship but I repeat what he said himself, ‘I had no political enemies, only political opponents’.” He understood the reality, or the politic real as they call it, of the today and of today… I think we have a lot to be grateful for in honouring and paying tribute to the life and celebrating Mr Panday’s life.”
Some of the major ways in which she believed the state could honour Panday included constitutional reform and even echoed other suggestions from the public, including renaming the Piarco International Airport, an early childhood centre in his hometown of St Julien Village, Princes Town, as well as scholarships after him.
Persad-Bissessar agreed that Panday deserves the highest honour of the country, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT).
She added, “There’s no doubt that we need serious constitutional reform… It is something I think to honour Mr Panday certainly, but to honour the people of Trinidad and Tobago, constitutional reform is really a serious matter to be tackled head on. I totally agree with that.”
She added that self-governance for Tobago is another aspect of constitutional reform and believes it is much needed and long overdue for the island.
Persad-Bissessarnoted that in honour of Panday, condolence books had been placed at the seven UNC-controlled corporation offices, the UNC headquarters in Chaguanas and the Opposition office at Charles Street, Port-of-Spain.
The entire Opposition also plans to attend the funeral while the party will discuss other ways to honour him.
Asked about criticisms about the way the party treated Panday, she said it was the People’s National Movement who ill-treated him.
Persad-Bissessar added, “I think the greatest disservice and injustice done to Mr Panday was not by the UNC. It was done by the PNM Government. We must never forget they were the ones who caused him to be jailed, continued and up to recently, Mr Rowley was talking about Mr Panday’s mischief one and mischief two and mischief five… The PNM really hounded him out of office and even after, they have continued with all the smears against him.”
She said her last conversation with Panday was a brief but pleasant one. She last saw him at the opening of the Fourth Session of the 12th Parliament in September last year.
However, when asked about reaching out to his daughter Mickela, she said she hadn’t been able to directly speak to her but had sent her messages.
Reflecting on some fond memories of Panday, Persad-Bissessar she he will always be remembered for committing his adult life to helping the poor and oppressed, his commitment to education, his role in the labour movement and his wit and humour.
She referred to him as a regional, visionary leader, and said he had many loved ones in his colourful life.
She said, “Even in the most dire circumstances, Mr Period would come up with one of the best pieces of wit and humour that you could hear. And I mean he served in every capacity. As I say, his entire adult life was dedicated to helping the poor and oppressed and many of his policies, many of his strategies implemented when he was prime minister would give credence to that. Even before he became Prime Minister, with the labour movement, he really worked really hard for the sugarcane workers and their dealing with things like better wages, affordable housing for them. As a labour leader, he was outstanding in that regard.”
She said she will always love and respect Panday.
While Opposition members, Government ministers and members of the public visited the Red House to honour Panday yesterday, some also lined up outside the Parliament with placards apologising and honouring Panday.
Some posters read, “We love you Mr Panday” and “Best UNC leader was Mr Basdeo Panday.”
Others said, “We are sorry Mr Panday, you were right.”
However, when Guardian Media asked what they were sorry about, no one had an answer.
When asked why they decided to walk with placards and stand outside the Parliament, there were also no answer.
Some people said they came from South Trinidad.