JUNIOR National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds paid a surprise visit to jailed former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday at the Maximum Security Prison on Wednesday.

Hinds, who spoke briefly with Panday, inquired from him whether he wanted to move from the Infirmary, next to where Jamaat al Muslimeen Leader Imam Yasin Abu Bakr is being kept in a cell.

But Panday reportedly declined, saying that he was expecting bail and would not be there much longer.

Sources said Hinds appeared to be concerned about how these two bitter political foes, who were on the warpath outside, had came face to face in jail. During his four days of incarceration, so far, sources said that Panday and Bakr made peace, as they shared newspapers and talked with each other.

But Commissioner of Prisons John Rougier was quick to dismiss reports that Hinds had gone to the prison to visit Panday.

He said the junior minister’s (who is responsible for the prisons) visit to the Golden Grove Prison was planned long in advance.

Rougier said Hinds makes regular visits to check on some of the new systems that are being put in place to transform the prison.

He said Hinds also makes periodical visits to the prison to check on complaints made to his officers by members of the public.

The Prisons Chief said that the meeting between Hinds and Panday was by chance.

He said it was after one of the visits by Panday’s relatives, the minister, who was passing at the time, said “hello” to him.

Rougier had accompanied the minister on the visit.

TnT Mirror was unsuccessful in its attempt to get a comment from Hinds.

Meanwhile, prisons sources said that Panday has not been doing well in jail.

“He looked worried as to why he cannot get bail and appeared depressed on Friday morning,” said another prisons source.

“And while he was going into the bathroom next to the Infirmary on Friday morning, Panday slipped and fell, injuring his elbow.

The source said Panday spent several sleepless nights from prison officers slamming cell gates and turning the keys during the nights.

He also had to sleep with lights.