Former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday says that in Trinidad and Tobago’s governance system, an Opposition is an extremely important institution, if it is effective Opposition.
Mr.Panday is often described as one of the, if not the best Opposition Leaders this country has ever seen. He describes passionately the power of the Opposition during his tenure as Opposition Leader, to unite Afro Trinbagonians and Indo-Trinbagonians in the context of their shared economic interests, at the time during the seventies.
He said he was told at the time that it could not be done, because of the ethnic divide that was prevalent at the time. Much like the ethnic divide that exists today in Trinidad and Tobago:
He said the potential is even greater for unity now, because back in the seventies, the Afro and Indo Trinbagonians were of the working class. He said now the middle class is also marginalised, so the potential to hold the government accountable and seek representation in the parliament is even greater today.
Mr. Panday also weighed in on the reason for this country’s runaway crime situation:
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