Former United National Congress leader and prime minister Basdeo Panday is entitled to fight any election because that is his democratic right.So said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday in response to Panday's announcement that he would be presenting a full slate of candidates at the UNC's internal elections next year.Persad-Bissessar, who was under the impression that Panday was contesting, said: "Mr Panday is still a member of the of the UNC. He has a democratic right. He is entitled to do do so. I see no difficulty with that whatsoever. The electorate will decide. Mr Panday is welcome to contest any election. We live in a democratic country."Told that Panday was not contesting, but presenting a full slate, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal interjected, asking the Prime Minister: "Are you disappointed?"
Persad-Bissessar responded with a laugh saying: "I thought he was going to contest. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."With regards to Legal Affairs Minister and Congress of the People leader Prakash Ramadhar's request to speak with her regarding her People's Partnership, she told reporters at a sod-turning ceremony for the Mayaro Fire Station that she spoke with him by telephone on Monday."When I spoke to him, his concern was not with the Partnership," she said."He said there were pockets of persons who feel that they have not been attended to and therefore we would want to focus on looking at those needs and delivery for those groups of people who feel that they may have been left out."She added that Ramadhar did not specifically raise with her issues relating to how the Partnership was functioning. She said she would have further discussions with him when they met on Thursday in Tobago for a Cabinet meeting.