Had he been alive today, Basdeo Panday would have been heartbroken by what has happened to his beloved Couva North constituency.
This, according to his daughter Mickela Panday, political leader of the Patriotic Front and candidate for Couva North in the April 28 general election.
Panday was speaking at a public meeting on Sunday at the Twin Walls Compound, Gulf View, San Fernando.
Referring to a walkabout in the constituency following Palm Sunday celebrations she said, “To see what Couva North has become would have broken my father’s heart. There is nothing there. The people are completely neglected.”
Basdeo Panday had served the constituency of Couva North from 1976 until 2010. The founder of the United National Congress (UNC) died in January 2024.
In the April 28 general election, his daughter will contest the seat, against the UNC’s Jearlean John and the People’s National Movement (PNM) Brent Maraj.
Panday said on Sunday that beyond the infrastructural woes affecting the community, there were youths who were unable to gain employment.
Supporters of Patriotic Front listening attentively to a speaker during to the party’s meeting Sunday at Twin Walls Compound , Gulf View ,La Romaine.Photo:TREVOR WATSON
She said many young people she has met say, ‘Miss Panday, I have a Master’s. I’ve been home for four years’…‘I did a teacher’s training degree. I’ve been waiting ten years’.”
While the Couva North seat was considered a safe constituency for the UNC, she said that of the 30,000 constituents, “more people did not vote than voted”.
She said her party would deliver action through three urgent priorities.
These, she said, would focus on the development of safe zones achieved through “full partnerships between law enforcement, social workers and upstanding members of the community”; unleashing the potential of San Fernando through investment in small businesses; the rebuilding of manufacturing bases and the development of new industries; and the development of food security as national defence by transforming agriculture into an economic powerhouse through modernise farming and supporting local farmers with access to credit and technology.
Bullying of candidate and family
Panday claimed that candidates of her party were continuing to face abuse.
She said the party’s candidate for Oropouche East, Danny Jadoonanan, and his family were facing bullying.
Jadoonanan, who spoke at the meeting impromptu, addressed the issue.
“The Patriotic Front is experiencing a lot of bullying that is taking place right now. They continue to bully us because you know why? We eh thief nothing. We have no police and no EMBD (Estate Management and Business Development Co Ltd) investigating we. We have no corruption allegation,” he said.
Panday urged the party’s candidates to “hold your head up high” and “let nothing distract you”.
“My father taught me keep your eye on the eye of the bird…You’ve been to your constituencies. Talk to people. Don’t worry if you don’t have money. Jersey don’t buy vote…Father used to tell me crowd doesn’t win vote…sit down, talk to people, empathise with people, understand what they’re feeling.
“One thing I remember my father saying: do not sit in your office to listen to people’s problems. Go out there and see what their problems are…when you see what somebody else is going through, it sticks in your head. And if you are involved in politics for the right reason, it begins to resonate in your soul and it gives you that drive and motivation to get out there and help them,” she said.
