Anil threatens to resign; wants CDA chairman fired

File: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar with CDA Chairman Daniel Solomon
at the launch of the Chaguaramas Boardwalk

JYOTI has confirmed local media reports that Sports Minister Anil Roberts has threatened to resign as a member of the cabinet and that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has told the minister he is free to do so. 

If Roberts decides to make good on his threat he would have to hand in his resignation to Winston Dookeran who would be acting Prime Minister from Sunday when Persad-Bissessar leaves for Washington for a week to attend the Americas-Africa Business Forum, which has been organised by the Organisation of American States (OAS).

She returns home on April 20, then leaves for Canada for on April 23 for an official visit at the invitation of her Canadian counterpart, Stephen Harper.

Roberts told Cabinet at its last meeting on Thursday that he strongly objects to the decision to let Daniel Solomon remain as chairman of the Chaguaramas Development Authority. 

The matter came up during a review of state boards and the PM asked whether she should leave Solomon as the CDA chairman. That's when Roberts objected and stated his position. He was adamant that if Solomon stays he would go.

However our sources did not state what is the real contention and why the Sports Minister was so determined to see a board chairman go, especially since the CDA does not fall within the jurisdiction of his ministry. The line minister for the CDA is Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewari.

The PM's style is to operate on consensus within her cabinet since it is a coalition representing different views. 

Roberts is a dedicated supporters of the partnership and the Prime Minister and has often found himself in conflict with his own party in order to defend the PM.