Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters Tuesday she did not fire People Minister Glenn Ramadharsingh because of allegations of sexual misconduct against the minister.
“My decision had already been made, my decision was made coming out of the incident involving Caribbean Airlines," she said, adding that she requested reports from Caribbean Airlines, the Airports Authority and Ramadharsingh. "I read all the reports, his responses, and it was on that basis I made my decision."
Persad-BIssessar said by the time the allegations came up she had already determined what she had to do. She spoke with reporters after delivering the feature address at the Annual General Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce at the Hilton Trinidad yesterday.
"I believe Dr Ramadharsingh has issued a statement on the matter in which he has denied the allegations; at the moment that is all I can stand on. I am not aware of a police investigation,” Persad-Bissessar said. Ramadharsingh remains the Member of Parliament for Caroni Central, and a member of the United National Congress (UNC).
She said there is no law to cause him to vacate his seat unless he resigns or the party expels him. In such a case the political leader can ask the Speaker to declare the seat vacant and a bye-election held as was the case with Herbert Volney in St Joseph. However, there can be no bye-election if any MP resigns or is expelled after June 16, 2014, which is the fourth anniversary of the convening of the present parliament.
She said there is no law to cause him to vacate his seat unless he resigns or the party expels him. In such a case the political leader can ask the Speaker to declare the seat vacant and a bye-election held as was the case with Herbert Volney in St Joseph. However, there can be no bye-election if any MP resigns or is expelled after June 16, 2014, which is the fourth anniversary of the convening of the present parliament.
The PM made it clear that the UNC does not have any plans to throw out Ramadharsingh. "I felt given the allegations that he should not remain as a minister but certainly as a member of the party he will have his day in the sun in terms of the investigations, should there be a prosecution or otherwise,” she said.
She reminded reporters of the cases of former People’s National Movement ministers Franklin Khan and Eric Williams, who were faced bribery in 2007, that were eventually dropped. She said both of them remained members of the party.
“My respectful view is that this time a person should not be fired as such. However, it is a matter that will be discussed at the executive of the party when we next meet,” she said.
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