Celebrating his 80th birthday yesterday, former prime minister Basdeo Panday wished for the country to be governed properly. Panday, who was at his home in Bryan’s Gate, Phillipine, with his two granddaughters who came from Singapore to spend the special day with him, also gave his opinion on how to deal with the e-mail scandal.
“My birthday wish has to do with the politics. I certainly wish that this country would be governed properly. I wish that the success of this country would be measured not by the amount of money spent but by the happiness that exists among the people, that should be the measure of progress.”
He hoped that the Government would spend the rest of its term in office listening to the people and giving them the things they want: roads, lights, housing and the basic necessities “rather than a party every Monday morning and spending money no one can account for. It’s sad.” Commenting on the burning issue of e-mails pointing to an alleged conspiracy involving top ranking government officials, he said it was a simple matter. “The first thing is to try and find out if it is real or unreal.”
Agreeing with Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, Panday said the investigating team must include foreign experts in the field. However, he said if the e-mails were true then its the end of the Government, but if its false then it is the end of Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.