Prakash changes his tune again; accuses PM of forcing him to accept closure on Coudray matter

File: Prakash Ramadhar: "We never accepted the retention of Marlene Coudray as mayor" 

Prakash Ramadhar is now saying that he did not willingly agree that the Congress of the People (COP) would end the Marlene Coudray matter as stated in a joint statement issued following a meeting of the leaders of the People's Parnership on April 12.

The COP leader told reporters Monday Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar "forced" the decision on him.

"We never accepted the retention of Marlene Coudray as mayor. It was at the insistence of the Prime Minister that Marlene Coudray will not resign that we realised the mayor issue was lost to the COP. It was never settled," Ramadhar said.

He added that on the basis of that position the leaders raised the question of alternative options.

The COP never agreed to the retention of Coudray, he explained, but in the context of the Prime Minister’s insistence "we said we would take the issue of the options to our membership." 

The matter went to the COP's national congress on Sunday and was rejected. On Monday he told reporters he is leaving the Marlene Coudray matter open. "We are leaving it as it is. It is closed to us as there is nothing else we can do."

He added, "It is now up to those in authority to address the matter." 

Ramadhar also said he never signed the joint statement issued after the April 12 meeting so he is not in breach of any deal as stated by COP member Anil Roberts.

It is the first time Ramadhar is making this charge about pressure from the Prime Minister although the joint statement was in the public domain since April 12, when the leaders issued it.

Persad-Bissessar told reporters last month that based on the contents of that agreement the Coudray matter was closed. On Sunday when Ramadhar talked with the media after the COP's national congress he made no mention of the alleged pressure from anyone.

His statement on Sunday was that clear about holding on to the demand for the removal of Coudray. "We will not accept any alternative compensation for the breach of the agreement by the UNC," he declared, adding that his party "will not sacrifice principle for position" and it "would not be bought" through any alternative offer".

The joint statement issued after the leaders' meeting on April 12 said:

• There was an agreement on the sharing of responsibilities arising out of the local government elections of 2010 and the COP would have the mayoral responsibility for the San Fernando City Corporation
• Given Coudray’s change in party allegiance, the COP no longer has that position of responsibility
• The most appropriate resolution of the COP’s loss of the position would be the allocation of another and to this end the leaders considered a number of options
• Owing to lack of time, a final determination could not be made that day

Roberts took his leader to task for his flip flop on the matter stating that the Coudray matter "was not an option, was off the table" based on what was released by the five leaders. "He accepted with the other leaders and the Prime Minister that Coudray’s (removal) was not an option.”

Roberts suggested that Ramadhar was being hypocritical in accusing the UNC of breach of an agreement when he clearly breached one agreed by the five partnership leaders.  

"He should check himself before he wrecks himself," Roberts told reporters Monday.

Roberts also made it clear that he won't be following his leader when it comes to a vote on any issue in Parliament. 

"Not even my father can tell me how to vote on any issue. So I would love to see Prakash Ramadhar, Joseph Toney and whoever else tell me, as an elected Member of Parliament, how I must vote or not vote. That and God face I would love to see. That isn’t happening.”