While the Congress of the People (COP) expects more resignations following yesterday’s departure of former chairman Nicole Dyer-Griffith, political leader Prakash Ramadhar said the party stands by its support of recent Cabinet changes and will contest general elections with the People’s Partnership (PP). “As you’d have noticed after Mrs Griffith left, the meeting continued until 1 pm with members under deputy chairman (Jamieson Bahadur ) who will take up the duties of chairman,” he said.
Ramadhar was speaking to reporters after COP’s National Council where Griffith’s announced her resignation from the chairmanship and the party yesterday morning. She walked out followed by several people. The meeting appeared to have been stormy with several attendees critical of the COP’s position in the PP.
Party officials said Griffith’s resignation was expected since she publicly disagreed with Ramadhar’s support of recent Cabinet changes, including the dismissal of her husband, former National Security Minister Gary Griffith on February 2 over the David West issue. She had called for members to consider severing PP ties. Ramadhar said there will not be an election of a new chairman since T&T is “months away from general elections.”
He said: “There are those who wish to see the COP go down but we enter elections with a renewed sense of energy. COP started with less than we have now and we’re in a better place than in 2007 and 2010. Once we stay focused we’ll be stronger.” Ramadhar said yesterday’s meeting was “exciting but somewhat difficult” and the resignation was “troublesome” but the COP would overcome. He said he had accepted Griffith’s resignation with a heavy heart. ”We wish her well,” he said.
On debate of severing ties with the PP, Ramadhar said the COP was loyal to the coalition. However, it was not blind loyalty but loyalty to COP’s manifesto promises. He also said there had also been “uncaring” people and one sometimes had to absorb indignities for the greater good. “Yesterday was yesterday and today will be better. COP has had to take short term pain to ensure long term gain,” he said.
Ramadhar said the COP will participate in elections in the Partnership and the party will continue long after Griffith’s departure. He said many of the things the party had promised had materialised with the PP, including procurement laws. He said the COP supported recent Cabinet changes since they adhered to the party’s fundamental principles that persons involved in probes of substance should demit office.
Commenting on claims that Gary Griffith was only a witness in the West issue, Ramadhar said the council agreed one could not presume to be a witness—the DPP and other authorities decided who were witnesses.
Ramadhar said Griffith’s position was out of consonance with COP principles. He noted Griffith had been National Security Minister in a matter being probed by police who fell under the security portfolio. Asked if three other PP ministers alleged to be questioned by police on the West/Griffith matter, he said: “Until I have clarity on what has happened, I can’t comment,”
Ramadhar said he would miss Dyer-Griffith , but the COP is not the place for ego since it was about principles rather than personalities. He said the party’s door was always open.
Apart from Dyer-Griffith’s walkout, several others drifted out of the meeting including suspended executive member Kishore Ramadhar, the political leader’s brother, who repeated his criticisms of the party’s direction. Sherry Kublalsingh, sister in law of hunger striker Dr Wayne Kulblalsingh, voiced criticisms but said Dyer-Griffith shouldn’t have left and should have stayed and tried to get things rectified.
Former chairman Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan attended the meeting but told the T&T Guardian she didn’t take any sides in the Dyer-Griffith resignation since she had supported the removal of Gary Griffith from the Cabinet. She however felt a mechanism had been needed to mediate the Dyer-Griffith matter and deal with fall-out from her exit.