Get Sharma back into the House

The United National Congress  has been called upon by the party faithful to try and find a way to overturn the indefinite suspension of Fyzabad MP, Chandresh Sharma from the House of Representatives. This was one of several resolutions  passed unanimously at the Opposition party’s national congress meeting at the Union/Claxton Bay Senior Comprehensive School yesterday. Delegates also voted unanimously on the motion condemning the Government for its “patent abuse of its Parliamentary majority.” The motion was titled, “An abuse of power by a PNM Parliamentary Dictatorship.” This resolution, which cited Sections 55 (1) and 5 (2) (e) of the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution, noted that freedom of speech as well as the right to a fair hearing was guaranteed under the Consitution.

The motion in the House to suspend Sharma was made without regard to the provisions contained within the Constitution, the UNC said. During a stormy Parliamentary session on Friday evening, the Fyzabad MP was suspended by House Speaker, Barry Sinanan, after Sharma refused to comply with a resolution calling on him to apologise to Housing Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, over the now-infamous teacup affair. The congress also adopted a resolution calling for the removal “of the Manning  administration at the earliest opportunity.” The resolution, which dealt with rising crime stated that the “PNM has demonstrated a consistent track record of incompetence, failure and inability to manage the alarming criminal activity and escalating crime wave.”

In a fiery address, UNC leader Basdeo Panday said the rising crime wave was a result of  “known drug lords” who were using their leverage with the Government to finance underworld activities. He said Indian Arrival Day may have to be renamed “Indian Departure Day” due to the migration of many Indian businessmen who, he said, bore the brunt of the kidnappings. Despite speculation that moves to remove both Pointe-a-Pierre MP, Gillian Lucky and San Juan/ Barataria MP, Dr Faud Khan, would be discussed at the national congress meeting, the issue was sidestepped by Opposition leader, Basdeo Panday, who instead said caretaker candidates had to be put in place in anticipation of an early General Election campaign.

He said the party would contest all 41 electoral districts,  including Tobago. Lucky was also noticeably absent from the party congress although the meeting occurred in the heart of the Pointe-a-Pierre constituency. Also attending the congress were UNC CEO, Dr Tim Goopiesingh, and UNC MPs Subhas Panday, Chandresh Sharma and Hamza Rafeeq.