Panday: What did PNM voters expect?

Source: Trinidad Express
Ria Taitt Political Editor

Friday, January 4th 2008

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday slammed Government on the issue of crime, saying that much of the gang-related violence was being fuelled by state-funded programmes and contracts.

In a telephone interview from London where he is still on vacation, Panday said: "I have been saying for the entire election that the Government's programme is geared towards creating criminality in the society. I have said that over and over. If the country doesn't want to listen, (then) don't listen. My job is to speak and their job is to ignore me if that is their wish. I have no sympathy for those who have been the victims of their own doing. They voted for the PNM, what did they expect? Honey and roses?"

On the issue of the declaration of a State of Emergency, Panday asked: "What would a State of Emergency permit the Government to do that it cannot do now?"

"If the answer is nothing, then of course this is a waste of time," he said, adding that it would be another attempt to hoodwink the population. On the issue of whether a State of Emergency would allow the police search people's homes and go after the guns, Panday asked: "Can't they search people's homes now?"

Panday said the population had imposed this yoke upon its own shoulder. "And unless they realise that, there would be no change. They would do the same thing all over again," he said.

Well all those people who said Panday was only preaching doom and gloom and he didn't know what he was talking about and then they went and vote for the PNM, they looked for what they are getting now. I don't blame Panday one bit for what he said. It's the truth and some people just can't handle the truth. The man has always been a visionary and as history has proven time and time again, most people like him are ignored or persecuted for what they say. If only the electorate were smarter maybe we wouldn't be in this mess we are in right now with the PNM. Now only time will tell. Will the PNM make another deal with the crime bosses in an attempt to "stop" crime? Will there actually be a decrease in murders? Only time will tell.