The Opposition

• Panday remains silent on senators
• Senate to have new as well as familiar faces

BY KYLE JEREMIAH and Adrian Boodan

OPPOSITION Leader Basdeo Panday remained tight-lipped yesterday on the appointment of six senators in time for next Monday’s opening of Parliament.

He said he wanted his choices to be a “surprise.”

Speaking with reporters last night, after a meeting of the party’s parliamentary caucus at the Rienzi Complex, Couva, Panday said the UNC would announce the names of its senators today.

Panday, though reluctant to release the names, said the House would see “new thoughts” coming to the forefront.

President George Maxwell Richards, meanwhile, appointed several new faces and a few veterans as Independent senators.

Among those appointed by the President are Michael Annisette, Subhas Ramkhelawan, Dana Seetahal, Prof Ramesh Deosaran, Corinne Baptiste-McKnight, Annette Nicholson-Alfred, Helen Drayton, Basharat Ali and Gail Merhair.

New senators

• Michael Annisette
• Subhas Ramkhelawan
• Corinne Baptiste-McKnight
• Annette Nicholson-Alfred
• Helen Drayton
• Gail Merhair
• George Hadeed (PNM)
• June Melville (PNM)
• Laurel Lezama (PNM)
• Linus Rogers (PNM)
• Danny Montano (PNM)

Familiar faces:

Dana Seetahal, Ramesh Deosaran, Basharat Ali and Danny Montano.

New senators speak

Montano, former minister of labour, said yesterday in a telephone interview that contrary to media reports, he was not confirmed as President of the Senate.

Rather, after being appointed to the Senate, he said, the senators would have to vote on whether or not they want him as president.

Montano said his was not a political office and that he would seek to ensure the Senate was run smoothly.

“My job is relatively simple. All I ask is that members comply with the standing orders,” Montano said.

Regarding former senate president Dr Linda Baboolal, Montano said her shoes were hard to fill as she “did a great job.”

Montano added: “I have known her for years and I hold her in very high esteem.”

Meanwhile, newly-appointed Independent senator Gail Merhair said yesterday during a telephone interview that she was humbled by her appointment.

She said she would bring an element of “objectivity and impartiality” to the Senate and to effectively represent the people of T&T.

“I would try to ensure that my views in the Senate would be in the interest of the people of T&T,” Merhair added.