Trinidad & Tobago’s High Court is pondering over whether to allow
the country’s former Indian origin prime minister Basedo Panday
to take up his duties as MP again.
Basedo Panday, the leader of the country’s United National Congress
(UNC), was brought down by a corruption scandal. He failed to
declare his Natwest Bank account in London to the Integrity Commission
for the years 1997, 1998, and 1999. This made him liable to pay
a fine of $60,000 and was ordered to pay $1.6 million in 2006.
Panday was representing the Couva North seat which was left
without an MP on last April 24 after the conviction was declared.
After a long absence of 11 months, the UNC interim leader returned
to the Parliament spotlight yesterday. The 73 year old politician,
Panday is planning to speak on the bill at the next session.
However, an appeal’s court rejected Panday’s conviction. Panday
attended the parliamentary proceedings on March 21 there by creating
a constitutional crisis in the country.
