Ramadhar distances himself from remarks by Mayers, says COP influencing gov't policy

Prakash Ramadhar is keeping away from comments made by the political colleague, Robert Mayers.

Both men are deputy political leaders of the Congress of the People (COP).

On Sunday Mayers gave an interview to the Guardian newspaper in which he said that COP should get out of the People's Partnership to salvage its credibility. 

The next day he stuck to his position but at the same time made it clear that he was speaking in his private capacity.

His views conflict with COP's official position, which Ramadhar reiterated in a media release Monday.

"I wish to publicly disassociate myself from any suggestion that the People’s Partnership Government must be removed from office, as attributed to Mr. Robert Meyers...

"I wish to place on record that Mr Meyers’ sentiments, as carried in the newspaper, were articulated without consultation with any of the party’s institutions. In fact, Mr. Meyers has since acknowledged that his statements may have been a bit intemperate," Ramadhar said.

"As a committed member of the People’s Partnership, the COP and its senior members must acknowledge that we too have a duty to make the Partnership work. 

"This will not be achieved by recklessly speaking about perceived ills within the partnership arrangement, but by responsibly attempting to address whatever deficiencies may exist," he added.

Speaking about his party, Ramadhar said COP has always prided itself on its independence and the independence of its members "to freely articulate their views on important issues." 

He acknowledged that "this will necessarily result in disagreements arising, particularly in an arrangement in which our partners may hold opposing views.

The challenge before us therefore, as leaders, is to resolve these differences in a manner that will always place the best interests of our citizens above all other interests. This can be best achieved by working to strengthen the People’s Partnership rather than trying to destabilize."

Ramadhar said he will take the responsibility of working with the COP Executive and members of the party to develop and implement the systems which will make the Partnership function more effectively.

The senior cabinet minister said at least three major commitments from People’s Partnership government have come from COP. They are:

• Axe the Tax campaign, which resulted in the government’s decision that there will be no new land taxes 
• One laptop per child, which was part of the COP's 2007 manifesto
• Anti-gang legislation, which was also a part of the 2007 manifesto

He called the three "the tip of the iceberg" and added that the economic management by COP leader and Minister of Finance Winston Dookeran "will deliver the country from economic ruin and guide the country back to sustainable prosperity." 

Ramadhar pointed that contrary to what Mayers and some others have said the party is influencing policy as a part of the government. "We are living up to our word. We are delivering for the people. If we were not part of the government we could not have achieved these things," he said.

"Hundreds of thousands of people put their faith in us. We cannot walk away because of one mistake and to do so would be irresponsible and to abdicate our duty to the people," Ramadhar said.