Senior Political Reporter
There will be full honours for a fallen warrior chief as former prime minister Basdeo Panday will be given the first state funeral under Hindu rites in T&T.
As T&T flags flew at half mast throughout the nation yesterday, the planning process was initiated for a state funeral under full Hindu rites for Panday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne yesterday stated that the Government offered to have a state funeral for Panday who died on Monday, and his family has accepted.
A statement from the Communication Ministry stated, “A state funeral will be held in honour of the late former prime minister. Further details will be conveyed at a later date.”
Browne said the Government was fully assisting in the return of Panday’s body to T&T, from Florida. Guardian Media understands that Panday’s body will be brought home by Thursday. Panday’s family, who were at his bedside when he died, are expected to return from Florida also. Two of Panday’s four daughters live overseas and two live in T&T.
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, speaking at the Prison Service’s First Working Day Interfaith Service at Universal Church of the Kingdom of God South Quay, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, said, National Security now has the very crucial role of returning Panday’s body.
“National Security has a very critical role to play in ensuring that the body returns with the solemnity and the respect that it deserves from abroad into Trinidad and Tobago through the period of mourning and its interment,” he said.
Panday, the legendary “Silver Fox” of T&T’s politics, died on Monday evening at a Jacksonville, Florida hospital where he was taken on December 12 for medical attention. He was 90 and would have turned 91 in May. Panday was T&T’s fifth prime minister, serving from November 9, 1995, to December 24, 2001.
Yesterday, the Government, which had played a key role in assisting Panday’s medical trip overseas since his departure, announced that flags are being flown at half mast in observance of his passing.
The Communication Ministry and the Ministry of National Security, where Panday was once National Security minister, advised all state and non-state agencies and T&T diplomatic missions abroad that the national flag was to be flown at half-mast from yesterday.
‘Full respect for Hindu rites required’
Browne said he was speaking with “Ms Mickela Panday and family members” in respect of the arrangements.
“Great care will be taken to ensure that Mr Panday’s family’s wishes are respected and there will be full respect to the Hindu rites associated with deaths and cremations. All details are being discussed and finalised with the family,” Browne added.
There is no date yet projected for the funeral to be held under Hindu rites.
Previous prime ministers the late Dr Eric Williams, George Chambers, Arthur NR Robinson and Patrick Manning were reportedly all buried under Christian rites.
Guardian Media understands a lot of new ground will need to be covered regarding the funeral. “This is being done with Mr Panday’s family and will take a little time to come to a resolution,” officials added
“Currently, a planning team is handling the matter, the family will make comments on all aspects and logistics are being worked out.”
Guardian Media confirmed that the Government fully facilitated and assisted the former prime minister’s recent trip for overseas medical treatment and has worked with his family since he left via air ambulance for Florida on December 12.
The Government has borne the costs as well for complete coverage at the Florida hospital where Panday was being treated as well as matters involving multiple medical agencies in the US which were also part of the situation. The State is also bearing the cost of repatriating Panday’s body and the funeral.
_with reporting by Carisa Lee
Browne, Hinds pay tribute
Foreign Affairs Minister Amery Browne, paying tribute to Panday, said, “Basdeo Panday has been a name synonymous with T&T’s national life and politics for more than a generation. This iconic former prime minister and trade unionist was a most charismatic leader, and he had the superb ability to disarm anyone and just about any situation with his broad smile and legendary wit. The Silver Fox had so many unique attributes, and he long established himself as our most quotable national figure.
“He was very much a family man, keeping his wife and daughters as close as possible, whilst at the same time enjoying an aura through which he came across as very much accessible to the wider national community. On a personal level, he never failed to pause for a friendly chat and to offer words of advice that went far beyond mere political politeness. You always felt he was fully invested in the moment.
“Those attributes and that sense of contact and proximity to the national pulse established and maintained Basdeo Panday as a force to be reckoned with in the national life of T&T and his iconic status is certain to be enduring. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, his many loved ones, colleagues, and the wider national community.”
Hinds described Panday as a “warrior” and “a tiger of a man” who had a reasonable relationship with other politicians and trade unionists.
He extended condolence to the family.
He provided T&T with safety and security as PM– Lawrence Maharaj
Former UNC attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj yesterday paid tribute to Panday.
Maharaj recalled the relationship with his former boss, Panday, who dismissed him as attorney general during the UNC government’s tenure. They clashed during the Panday administration’s tenure when Maharaj and fellow ministers Trevor Sudama and Ralph Maraj protested alleged corruption. Maharaj was fired. Maraj and Sudama resigned. It led to the administration’s downfall.
Maharaj said, “There can be no doubt Mr Panday left an indelible mark on T&T’s politics in that before he became prime minister he was very involved in the struggle of the working class and he entered politics at a time when there were great injustices to sugar workers and other workers.
“During the time he served as PM and I as attorney general, he was able to have a country that was safe from criminals as the crime rate was one of the lowest T&T ever saw. During that period, the oil price was low on the world market and he was still able to deliver governance which provided relief to most sectors.”
Maharaj added, “Notwithstanding the hiccups that occurred in his government, it was able to provide T&T with safety and security, sustainable attack on the drug trade and good economic prospects. His death is a loss for T&T and one of the issues that stands out in his legacy is his fight for equality of treatment for all. During the time he was PM and I was attorney general, the government was able to provide Equal Opportunity legislation and transparency and accountability of the government to the people.”
He said despite their difference of opinions and disagreements, “The fact he was annoyed with my plan to fight corruption and he dismissed me as AG, we were never on very bad terms as we subsequently reconnected and worked together. He knew I was a firm believer in open transparency and accountability of Government. He had his views, I had mine, and notwithstanding his strong views against the stance I took, we reconnected.
“I had a good relationship with him, we met socially and even had tea up to two or three years ago. I was always his friend, never his foe. I stood up for what I considered to be right and maintained that stance throughout my friendship with him.”
T&T hard-pressed to find another leader with such sincere outlook–Kamla
UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday that T&T and the Caribbean would be hard-pressed to identify another leader with such an insightful and sincere outlook as Panday.
“He has served and led us like no one else,” Persad-Bissessar added.
Persad-Bissessar, in a second tribute to Panday (after her first on Monday), said, “He remained optimistic even as he occasionally voiced his public frustrations. He was unique for his strong-willed nature, the clarity of his often-radical views, and his valour in promoting his principles and standards. Trinidad and Tobago–and, indeed, the Caribbean–would be hard-pressed to identify another leader with such an insightful and sincere outlook and the determination to work toward its fulfilment.”
“Former PM Panday was the conscience of our nation and an undisputed post-colonial Caribbean visionary leader. T&T is fortunate that this exceptionally gifted son of our soil devoted his entire adult life to campaigning for a country of economic equity, social justice, and ethnic and class unity. The genesis of Mr Panday’s lifelong contribution to public service stemmed from his unswerving and clear-sighted view that our society must be remodelled with equal and fair opportunities for all and a progressive, sustainable economy.”
The Law Association of T&T, also paying tribute to Panday, said, “The late Honourable Basdeo Panday was a fierce advocate for justice and always had the well-being of others at heart. The legal fraternity and, by extension, Trinidad and Tobago has lost a great political icon, trade unionist, and lawyer, and he will indeed be sorely missed.
The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago extends its deepest condolences to the family of the Late Honourable Mr Basdeo Panday and hopes his legacy will continue to serve as a beacon for others to follow ...”