By SEAN DOUGLAS Thursday, July 24 2008

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Basdeo Panday...

OPPOSITION Leader Basdeo Panday said Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s announcement at the PNM’s annual convention of a completely new system of governance and far-reaching constitutional reform was simply a “red herring” to divert public attention from Government’s performance and matters of crime and high food-prices.

Panday was addressing the UNC’s Monday Night Forum at Aranjuez Main Road, on Monday. He said while Manning tried to emulate the convention speech of the PNM’s founder, the late Dr Eric Williams, what he did was dodge issues of concern, particularly crime and high food prices.

Panday chastised the PM for not saying who formulated the working paper. “How can anyone respect it when he won’t even tell you where it came from?” “This Draft Constititution is a scam, a red herring. They are hoping you will forget the commission of inquiry into Udecott,” he said. The Opposition Leader also put UNC supporters on guard that Local Government elections could be held soon.

He urged supporters to stay alert and invited supports to nominate persons for UNC candidates for Local Government elections.