Wednesday, August 19 2009

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Patrick Manning...

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Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday says he disagrees with Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s statement that proportional representation would lead to racial disharmony.

“The argument for proportional representation is that we shall bring into the decision-making process a wide cross-section of the society, and this leads to greater democracy. It has nothing to do with race,” he said in a telephone interview.

Panday said proportional representation involved an executive President who reported to a Parliament comprising about 100 people of various backgrounds.

“This would allow for greater accountability by the executive,” he said.

“I cannot understand Mr Manning’s rationale..It involves the contributions of various interest groups such as trade union and farmers.”