COP deputy leader says it's time for party to leave People's Partnership

The Deputy Leader of the Congress of the People, Robert Mayers, has told the Sunday Guardian that it is time for COP to get out of the People's Partnership (PP) before it loses its credibility.

Mayers told the paper, "On May 24, people voted for a People’s Partnership Government and now they’ve gotten a UNC Government. They didn’t vote for that.” said Mayers.

The Guardian didn't say if Mayers was expressing the official party position or whether he was speaking in his personal capacity.

His comments are in conflict with what COP leader Winston Dookeran has repeatedly stated in public - that the coalition remains strong and united and that COP remains committed to the People's Partnership.

Dookeran is on record as saying the partnership is the vehicle for the political way forward. And other members of the coalition have made similar public statement.

There are six COP MPs among the 29 PP legislators, with the other 22 being UNC members. The COP members are Dookeran, who holds the finance portfolio; Anil Roberts (Sports), Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan (Energy), Prakash Ramadhar (Legal Affairs) and Rodger Samuel, who is a Parliamentary Secretary.

In addition, COP member, Senator Mary King, is the Planning Minister and Timothy Hamel-Smith is the President of the Senate. Several COP members hold key positions on state boards.

Mayers said he is concerned about the increasing profile of the UNC in the partnership because both the UNC and the PNM "carry the stigma of corruption" associated with them.

He is unhappy about the Ramnarine affair. “The act of appointing Ramnarine says more than they realise. They treated the post in such a flippant manner. It also shows their treatment of crime is just a joke. They are not serious,” he stated.

He also said the economy is suffering from what he called "the indecisiveness" of the partnership and suggested that it is time to end the partnership. “They can’t stay. We have to move them now,” he said.

Mayers said there is no institutional framework to support the Partnership except a manifesto presented during the 2010 election and a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the head of the five parties comprising the coalition - UNC, COP, TOP, NJAC and MSJ.

In media release Sunday COP's Communication Secretary Dr Omar Ali said Mayers will appear on TV6 Monday to discuss the current political situation.