If nothing else, the ongoing war of words between Basdeo Panday and Jack Warner is certainly entertaining. With the installation of the unknown Natasha Navas over the well-established Suruj Rambachan as mayor of Chaguanas, Warner scored a significant psychological victory over the erstwhile Silver Fox. Not only did it seem as though Panday was caught napping, but Warner was displaying his own political prowess by proving that Rambachan’s experience, qualifications, and public persona counted for naught against even a young woman with no track record, once the latter had Jack Warner’s backing. Mr Panday’s response, that he would elevate Rambachan from mayor to senator, was not impressive since this was merely a display of office, not strategy.

Next came the furore over the firing of 54 borough workers by Mayor Navas, who blamed former Mayor Rambachan for this necessity. Immediately, Mr Panday leaped on that bandwagon, saying he would write the Government to get funds to re-hire the workers. But Jack Warner went one better, saying he had actually sourced $309,000 to pay the workers. Mr Panday then wondered if that money was coming from an alleged $30 million missing from UNC contributions, and Mr Warner returned fire from both barrels, challenging Mr Panday to pay the workers out of his $1 million London bank account, and pointing out that if contributors had given him $30 million instead of going directly to the party’s leader, then that said something about the political leader.

Mr Panday’s retort, in which he raised the spectre of drug money, is a silly slander which he has used against his opponents before, along with the old allegation of PNM conspiracies.

Mr Warner not only announced that he was pursuing legal action, but he is also attempting to drive a wedge between Mr Panday and his UNC executive by threatening that they will be party to the lawsuit unless they disassociate themselves from Mr Panday’s remarks. And, when asked by reporters about this latest development, Mr Panday’s unblushing response was that he would not sink as low as Mr Warner.

So, at this juncture, Jack Warner has the upper hand-at least rhetorically. At the same time, Mr Panday has been playing this game a lot longer than Mr Warner or Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, is ensconced in the leadership post, and has a loyal core of supporters. And, in the final analysis, the status quo and ethnic-based politics may trump any rhetorical or even financial advantage. Perhaps the UNC’s next internal elections will settle the party’s wrangling or lead to a credible Opposition by some other means.

Until then, however, the country will be guaranteed verbal jabs and insights into the cut-and-thrust of political manoeuvring. It’s entertainment and education for all.