COUVA, Trinidad (AP):
TRINIDAD'S FORMER Prime Minister announced a new 'Alternative Govern-ment' on Thursday, saying the current Government took power illegally after an electoral tie.
The proclamation by former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday reflected a persisting struggle for the political upper hand between Trinidad and Tobago's two main parties, which each won 18 parliamentary seats in the December 10 elections.
Patrick Manning, of the People's National Movement party, was sworn in as Prime Minister after President Arthur Robin-son chose him to break the tie on December 24. Robinson gave little ex-planation, and Panday accused Robinson of personal bias.
"An illegal Government has been installed," Panday said Thursday at his party's headquarters in Couva -- about 20 miles (30 kilometres) south of the capital of Port-of-Spain -- after a "Cabinet meeting" with his former ministers that he said he will conduct every week.
"Former Ministers of the Government, and members who won their seats in their last elections... decided on the formation of an alternative Government, with of course, an alternative Cabinet," he said.
Manning, speaking after a meeting with his Cabinet, said Panday's announcement could lead to a "dangerous course of action," but that his Government could deal with any "attempt at disruption."
