A SERIOUS health crisis
is shaking the leadership of the opposition United National Congress
(UNC), causing concern among party supporters.
Heading the list of UNC top politicians facing a medical crisis is
UNC political Leader Basdeo Panday, whose health is deteriorating,
according to party insiders.
Despite Panday stating recently that he was given a clean bill of
health when he went for a medical check up in London, sources say
the UNC leader is suffering from a number of complications arising
of his cardiac and diabetic condition which is reportedly affecting
his kidneys.
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Harry
Partap
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His diabetes has caused
serious complications to his bladder forcing him to wear a special
underwear that is known to be used for this purpose.
Vascular problems to his legs are causing swelling and discolouration.
Panday, 74, in his recent appeal to the Privy Council to challenge
the decision for him to once again be tried on charges of failing
to declare a London bank account to the Integrity Commission cites
the state of his health, age and costs in defending himself as oppressive
factors to have him face a retrial.
He claims he was under significant stress by virtue of threat of
a retrial and the potential of an adverse outcome on his health
due to a retrial because of his serious health complications.
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Prisons
Medical Officer
Dr.VINOD Mahabir
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After Panday was jailed
for two years by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls earlier this
year, he went before Justice Anthony Carmona in the Port-of-Spain
High Court seeking bail on medical grounds pending his appeal
against conviction and sentence.
Two doctors, cardiologist Dr. Rasheed Rahaman and Prisons Medical
Officer Dr. Vinod Mahabir, were summoned to report to the court
on his medical condition.
The judge was told Panday was suffering from both cardiac and
a diabetic condition with serious associated complications.
Dr. Rahaman had recommended that Panday be granted bail because
he could die in prison.
But he may have “outfoxed” the judge because when
he came out of prison he showed no signs of serious health problems
when he got back into the political arena. Today, the UNC leader
is sporting a red beret and is still roaring like a Lion.
There is much sympathy from faithful party supporters over Panday’s
medical condition.
The fiery politician who has been in politics for more than four
decades said in a recent interview that when “you are in
public life, your health is no longer private.” “The
old lion is peeing on his tail,” stated one UNC observer.
UNC supporters say that Panday must come out and state his health
condition just like his deputy Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who caused
a major scare among her political colleagues when she publicly
stated that she had undergone tests for breast cancer.
Persad-Bissessar, Subhas Panday, Adesh Nanan, Dr. Hamza Rafeeq
and Harry Partap are all under a cloud.
Panday (Subhas) has disclosed he is suffering from cancer of the
prostate, while Nanan suffered a mild heart attack during a trip
to Dominica some months ago and had to be rescued by Junior National
Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds when he collapsed in the car
that was taking them to the airport.
He has since recovered. Dr. Rafeeq has been taking medical check-ups
for his heart while Partap is ensuring that he is not suffering
from a prostate problem. Another UNC politician is reportedly
impotent.
However, UNC sources say that a number of these politicians will
not be facing the polls in the upcoming General Election. Panday
has already indicated that he has no desire of becoming prime
minister or to lead the opposition for another 20 years.
But he “nah leaving” the UNC, observers say. He said
he would stay as long as the people of Couva North wants him.
“I shall never abandon them,” he told supporters at
the UNC Monday Night Forum in Arima on Monday night.
“Panday will die with his political boots on,” one
UNC activist said.
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