Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner has said it pains him to take Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday to court, but he (Panday) has left him no choice.

’I should not have reached there. But Mr Panday is a big man. He’s a lawyer. This does not give me any joy. In fact this has caused me tremendous pain,’ Warner told the Express yesterday by phone.

Warner’s attorney, Allan Newman QC, yesterday flew in from London to launch this legal battle against Panday as well as the UNC Executive.

Warner said he and Newman would be discussing today three cases of legal action he intends to take.

The first is against Panday over comments he made on a radio programme. Warner claimed that Panday called him a drug lord after he handed a $309,000 cheque to Chaguanas Mayor Natasha Navas to pay the salaries of 54 workers.

Panday has denied this, but Warner said he has the radio transcripts to support his case.

The second legal battle Warner intends to fight is against the Panday-led UNC Executive.

Last week the Executive decided to send Warner to the party’s disciplinary committee for his failure to answer some 25 charges against him which include bringing the party into disrepute and voting with the PNM in the Parliament.

The third legal action is on behalf of UNC councillors Felisha Isahak and Narsingh Rambaran who were also sent to the party’s disciplinary committee for their alleged role in the ousting of Suruj Rambachan as Chaguanas mayor.

Warner said it saddened him to take these steps and admitted that the energies he and Panday have expended on each other should have been directed at the PNM.

However, Warner stressed that he has no choice but to match Panday and fight him on his actions taken.

’I shall go a particular route with Mr Panday. I have no intention of being sidetracked at this point in time,’ said Warner.

He added that he has no intention of attending any more meetings of the Executive. Warner, who is the deputy leader of the UNC, is an executive member.