Wednesday, November 4 2009

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday have agreed to work together to fashion a new Constitution, Manning said yesterday as he spoke to reporters outside the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s where both men met.

“One thing we agreed on...we agreed to work towards agreeing on a new Constitution. I was telling Mr Panday, I don’t know how long I will last in politics,” Manning said. “Of course I know,” Panday quipped. “He may last longer than me,” Manning countered. “Until the next election,” Panday replied. “It appears both of us want a new Constitution,” the Prime Minister said as he laughed.

Manning maintained that the working document on Constitution reform, laid in Parliament on January 9, was not going to be scrapped because of these talks he had with Panday. “We have a working paper on the table for discussion. That’s after three years of discussions,” the Prime Minister said. While there are fundamental differences between Government and the Opposition on issues such as proportional representation, Panday said: “It is clear there can be no constitutional reform unless there is agreement between the Opposition and the Government.”

Panday said the Opposition put forward several wide-ranging proposals on constitutional reform and Manning asked they be submitted in writing, so Cabinet could discuss them. Once that happens, the Prime Minister said, “We have agreed to meet again.”

Panday said this meeting would most likely take place after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), from November 27 to 29.

Before the start of their meeting at 1 pm, Manning rejected claims from Congress of the People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran that the meeting was one to reinforce the political capital of Panday and himself. “This is not a bargaining meeting. What is the evidence to support that claim?” the Prime Minister asked.

He dismissed media reports that it was Panday who called for the meeting saying it was he (Manning) who called Panday to a meeting behind the Speaker’s Chair during last Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives. Attorney General John Jeremie and St Augustine MP Vasant Bharath also participated in yesterday’s meeting.