Trinidad & Tobago opposition shows up at debate and slams anti-crime efforts

Mr. Basdeo Panday

Saturday, October 11, 2003

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad & Tobago's Opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Mr. Basdeo Panday, decided to show up for yesterday's budget debates after all and spent nearly two-hours telling members of the House of Representatives that Prime Minister Patrick Manning's proposed budget wastes money on what he called useless government work programs. 

AP last night reported that Mr. Panday also slammed the government for not doing enough to stem a recent crime wave.

"After 22 months in office, we hear that the government has now declared war on the criminals," AP quoted the former PM as saying. "What was it before? Peace and love, hugging and embrace?"

Trinidad has broken last year's records of 29 ransom kidnappings and 172 murders. Since January, there have been at least 38 ransom kidnappings and 180 murders.

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