HONOURABLE MEN

 I HAD PLANNED on writing about the state of the country after Christmas and the New Year had passed. But after learning of the death of Basdeo Panday on January 1st I decided that for the first post of this year I would  write a few words about him before resuming my various musings and commentaries.

I have read with great interest and taken not little pleasure in the many accolades that I have seen about the great man. And yes, Basdeo Panday was a great man. So to paraphrase William Shakespeare, this post is about burying Panday, not to praise him. And continuing with the Shakespearean analogy I would say that "the evil men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with ..." Panday. 

Our noble Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, in referring to Mr. Panday called him "an actor, Lawyer, labour Leader and Politician". Nowhere did Dr. Rowley refer to Mr. Panday as a former Prime Minister although this omission  was glaring to many and obvious to both sides of the political divide. But, again paraphrasing Shakespeare, Dr. Rowley is an honourable man. So if he neglected to mention in his eulogy that Mr. Panday was once a Prime Minister that sin of omission can be forgiven because he (Dr. Rowley) is indeed an honourable man. Indeed, Dr. Rowley's Government has ordered that the nation's flags be flown at half mast as  a symbol of mourning for Mr. Panday, and has also ordered that the State will meet the Panday family's funeral expenses as well as a State funeral for his predecessor.

Dr. Rowley is an honourable man and will doubtless mention these actions as evidence that he is an honourable man. Paraphrasing Shakespeare again, I am not writing here to criticize any honourable persons but simply to mourn for Basdeo Panday. That Mr. Panday would have had a suitable comment concerning Dr. Rowley's omission is beyond doubt, but he would never have hesitated had the shoe been on the other foot,  to mention that his successor was once a Prime Minister and would have recognized him as such. But then, Basdeo Panday was indeed an honourable man.