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| Protest against MP Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan. (Guardian Photo) |
COP members burned T-shirts with the MP's photo and threatened to defect to the United National Congress (UNC).
The t-shirt burning was part of a demonstration that took place on Monday. The COP members were angry that a constituency sub-office was being opened in Marabella without their knowledge.
However the Guardian newspaper quoted Bishop Jankie Raghunanan, whom it identified as the field and research officer for the San Fernando West constituency, as saying members had just gathered for prayers ahead of a formal opening of the office. The paper also quoted Raghunanan as saying that he did not know if the COP members were invited.
The Bishop ran as the United National Congress (UNC) candidate in the San Fernnando West constituency in 2007 in a three-way race with Marlene Coudray (COP) and Junia Regrello (PNM). Regrello won the seat.
The t-shirt burning was part of a demonstration that took place on Monday. The COP members were angry that a constituency sub-office was being opened in Marabella without their knowledge.
However the Guardian newspaper quoted Bishop Jankie Raghunanan, whom it identified as the field and research officer for the San Fernando West constituency, as saying members had just gathered for prayers ahead of a formal opening of the office. The paper also quoted Raghunanan as saying that he did not know if the COP members were invited.
The Bishop ran as the United National Congress (UNC) candidate in the San Fernnando West constituency in 2007 in a three-way race with Marlene Coudray (COP) and Junia Regrello (PNM). Regrello won the seat.
The demonstrators complained about what they said is poor representation from Seepersad-Bachan. COP founding member in San Fernnando, Rodney Kungebeharry, told the Guardian Seepersad-Bachan is an absentee MP.
He added that the only time the COP focused on San Fernando West in the past two years was when Mayor Marlene Coudray joined the United National Congress (UNC) and fought and won a place in that party’s internal election.
“We supported the MP and helped her win the seat, but the only help coming to the poor people...is from Councillor (Gloria) Calliste and the mayor,” he added.
Calliste threatened to leave COP and join the UNC, the Guardian reported.
Kungebeharry called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to pass recall legislation to oust non-performing elected representatives. He said the angry COP members are giving political leader Prakash Ramadhar two weeks to deal with their concerns. If they are not satisfied, they would leave the party, he said.
Seepersad-Bachan dismissed the protest. She told the Express newspaper, "It is a Member of Parliament office, I don't know what is the objection of a parliament office."
She added, "A Member of Parliament is allowed a main office...and then you are allowed two other sub offices." She said he has been getting many complaints from Marabella and that's why she believes an office is needed there.
Seepersad-Bachan told the paper she doesn't understand why constituents would object to an MP opening an office to serve the people. She also suggested that the protesters were not COP members.
"They were really trying to get between Gloria Calliste and myself. She was very critical of me a few weeks ago over the Marlene Coudray issue when she came out in support of Marlene Coudray," she told the paper, adding that she believes the protest is a "the extension of all of that."
This is the second "uprising" against a COP MP. Recently the representative for Lopinot/Bon Air West, Dr Lincoln Douglas, faced a revolt from members of his constituency who threatened to pass a motion of no confidence in him. Douglas dismissed the move and charged that the UNC was behind it.
He added that the only time the COP focused on San Fernando West in the past two years was when Mayor Marlene Coudray joined the United National Congress (UNC) and fought and won a place in that party’s internal election.
“We supported the MP and helped her win the seat, but the only help coming to the poor people...is from Councillor (Gloria) Calliste and the mayor,” he added.
Calliste threatened to leave COP and join the UNC, the Guardian reported.
Kungebeharry called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to pass recall legislation to oust non-performing elected representatives. He said the angry COP members are giving political leader Prakash Ramadhar two weeks to deal with their concerns. If they are not satisfied, they would leave the party, he said.
Seepersad-Bachan dismissed the protest. She told the Express newspaper, "It is a Member of Parliament office, I don't know what is the objection of a parliament office."
She added, "A Member of Parliament is allowed a main office...and then you are allowed two other sub offices." She said he has been getting many complaints from Marabella and that's why she believes an office is needed there.
Seepersad-Bachan told the paper she doesn't understand why constituents would object to an MP opening an office to serve the people. She also suggested that the protesters were not COP members.
"They were really trying to get between Gloria Calliste and myself. She was very critical of me a few weeks ago over the Marlene Coudray issue when she came out in support of Marlene Coudray," she told the paper, adding that she believes the protest is a "the extension of all of that."
This is the second "uprising" against a COP MP. Recently the representative for Lopinot/Bon Air West, Dr Lincoln Douglas, faced a revolt from members of his constituency who threatened to pass a motion of no confidence in him. Douglas dismissed the move and charged that the UNC was behind it.
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