By CECILY ASSON Friday, July 24 2009

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday last evening appointed himself as the “surrogate father” of the Chaguanas West constituency in the absence of their established MP, Jack Warner. Panday is the MP of Couva North.

He also announced that Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath will look after the constituency of Tabaquite in the absence of former attorney general, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, while Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Harry Partap will look after the constituency of Mayaro, which elected Winston “Gypsy” Peters. In addition, Panday said the appointed caretakers of the three constituencies, would be assisted by UNC councillors in each of the three seats. After last evening’s meeting of the executive at the Rienzi Complex, Couva, Panday announced to the media “we have taken a decision to set up interim management committees because the persons elected under the UNC banner have abandoned their constituents.”

“They seem to have joined the PNM, and the constituents do not need anymore PNM,” he added.

Panday also announced that a national congress has been scheduled for September 13, while the party’s national assembly is carded for October 25.

The Opposition Leader also said the meeting had decided to defer the decision on expulsion of the three members – Warner, Maharaj and Peters – to later on, after the national assembly. Originally, he recalled, it was proposed to deal with the expulsions at internal party elections which were to be held after the local government elections. Now, with the postponement of the local government elections, following the October party assembly they will discuss a date for the internal party elections when the party will deal with the expulsions.

Warner was a “no show” at last evening’s meeting, having announced earlier that he had a scheduled meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington.

Questioned about the current position of Warner, Maharaj and Peters, Panday said the three had virtually expelled themselves from the party.

Panday reiterated the decision to take the three to the Disciplinary Committee, but all three were absent.