The People's Partnership is still holding together, Congress of the People (COP) Leader Prakash Ramadhar has resumed his vacation in Florida, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the bickering in COP is getting worse.
One top COP official is now calling for Ramadhar to resign from cabinet and Ramadhar's cabinet colleague, Sports Minister Anil Roberts, is accusing his leader of trying to create kuchoor within the governing coalition.
In the latest round of partnership talks to resolve the Marlene Coudray affair Ramadhar had to concede that COP would not get its demand for the mayor of San Fernando to resign.
He told reporters that the party would have to look at other options when its congress meets on April 29. However one option the party won't be considering the leaving the partnership.
Roberts said on national television Friday Ramadhar received a "slap in the face" at Thursday's meeting.
One top COP official is now calling for Ramadhar to resign from cabinet and Ramadhar's cabinet colleague, Sports Minister Anil Roberts, is accusing his leader of trying to create kuchoor within the governing coalition.
In the latest round of partnership talks to resolve the Marlene Coudray affair Ramadhar had to concede that COP would not get its demand for the mayor of San Fernando to resign.
He told reporters that the party would have to look at other options when its congress meets on April 29. However one option the party won't be considering the leaving the partnership.
Roberts said on national television Friday Ramadhar received a "slap in the face" at Thursday's meeting.
He was the first person to lash out against Ramadhar, saying his leader was wrong to give the partnership an ultimatum over the mayoral matter. He had also said Ramadhar did not speak for him, although he remains a COP member.
Roberts said Ramadhar should think carefully and reflect on his leadership of the COP. He added that Ramadhar is trying to play "wrong and strong" by criticising the Prime Minister for the COP failure and acting like a spoilt child.
“I think he needs to act maturely, know that he erred, he listened to wrong advice, apologise and move on,” Roberts said.
Ramadhar has said it is Persad-Bissessar's responsibility to settle the matter because the mayorship of San Fernando is a political issue.
COP chairman Joseph Toney, who first raised the Coudray matter by accusing the United National Congress (UNC) of "poaching" denied that Ramadhar had threateened to leave the partnership.
He told the Guardian media, “The COP’s business is to ensure the PP holds together and provides good governance for T&T. But we still hope Ms Coudray will do the decent thing."
Toney insisted that the fault is with Persad-Bissessaar, whom he noted "has committed much wrongdoing in this matter.” He said his party feels "shortchanged”
Former COP deputy leader Robert Mayers, who openly denounced the presence of COP in the partnership as far back as 2010, told the Guardian COP must reject any compromise and stated that Ramadhar must resign from the Cabinet.
"While I understand he had to agitate on the Coudray issue, that was just one in a long line of abuse by the UNC senior partner. The COP was also at a disadvantage from the start of those PP meetings since leaders met on the PM’s turf.”
Mayers said Ramadhar lost credibility because the Prime Minister has reined him in. “COP was supposed to have represented new politics. Having screwed up partnership negotiations from the start, the party has been at a disadvantage since then. The issue now is how to salvage its position."
Roberts said Ramadhar should think carefully and reflect on his leadership of the COP. He added that Ramadhar is trying to play "wrong and strong" by criticising the Prime Minister for the COP failure and acting like a spoilt child.
“I think he needs to act maturely, know that he erred, he listened to wrong advice, apologise and move on,” Roberts said.
Ramadhar has said it is Persad-Bissessar's responsibility to settle the matter because the mayorship of San Fernando is a political issue.
COP chairman Joseph Toney, who first raised the Coudray matter by accusing the United National Congress (UNC) of "poaching" denied that Ramadhar had threateened to leave the partnership.
He told the Guardian media, “The COP’s business is to ensure the PP holds together and provides good governance for T&T. But we still hope Ms Coudray will do the decent thing."
Toney insisted that the fault is with Persad-Bissessaar, whom he noted "has committed much wrongdoing in this matter.” He said his party feels "shortchanged”
Former COP deputy leader Robert Mayers, who openly denounced the presence of COP in the partnership as far back as 2010, told the Guardian COP must reject any compromise and stated that Ramadhar must resign from the Cabinet.
"While I understand he had to agitate on the Coudray issue, that was just one in a long line of abuse by the UNC senior partner. The COP was also at a disadvantage from the start of those PP meetings since leaders met on the PM’s turf.”
Mayers said Ramadhar lost credibility because the Prime Minister has reined him in. “COP was supposed to have represented new politics. Having screwed up partnership negotiations from the start, the party has been at a disadvantage since then. The issue now is how to salvage its position."
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