Whatever late PNM MP Ken Valley did, he always did well, according to former UNC leader Basdeo Panday. Panday commented yesterday on Valley's death. The one time PNM deputy leader had been battling colon cancer over the last few years. Panday said, "I have known Ken for quite a long time, both of us being MPs. I've always maintained that if someone is on a different political path than mine, it doesn't make him an enemy. "Therefore Ken and I had a good relationship. He was very articulate in Parliament and very forceful. Whatever he did, he always did it well. He will be missed," Panday said extending sympathies to Valley's family.
Panday who began hosting "The Political Reality" on Tuesdays a television forum for ministers to answer citizens' questions, said the first person he intends to invite is Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal. Panday also queried whether Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar reprimanded Agriculture Minister Vasant Bharath on the issue at Thursday's Cabinet session, and whether she had done the same with Moonilal. Panday distanced himself from Moonilal who spearheaded Panday's 2006 campaign to be re-elected UNC leader. Panday added: "If I trained him, this is one case where the student clearly didn't learn anything. He's extremely arrogant-I think the farmers recognised that. He's latched on to power and he and the entire Government are detached from the UNC's philosophies. They're losing the people's support."
Panday said he saw Persad-Bissessar had taken up a point he made about a feasibility study which identified fertile and non fertile lands. He added: "But I still want to know who gave the order to bulldoze, why it was necessary and why the opportunity was not given to reap the crops." Panday added, "In the farmers' issue, they all kept saying it's a choice between housing and agriculture but nobody is telling them not to build. The issue is whether they will build on agricultural lands." Panday said he intends inviting Persad-Bissessar on his show "as soon as she's ready to come." He said PP's upcoming anniversary may be a good time.