Sharma silent on assault

FYZABAD MP Chandresh Sharma was silent yesterday at a UNC media conference on his recent brawl with Minister of Housing Dr Keith Rowley. Although he was present at the briefing at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Sharma let others do the taking on the claim that Rowley had assaulted him in the Tea Room of the Red House on Wednesday during a break of the sitting of the House Finance Committee. After the briefing the Opposition refused to take any questions on the issue from reporters, saying they had to go to a sitting of the House. 

In the news conference, UNC MPs for Couva South Kelvin Ramnath and Oropouche Dr Roodal Moonilal alleged Rowley had struck Sharma.
Ramnath said he had so far tried to keep his peace about the incident he had witnessed but now Rowley’s denial had prompted him to come forward. “Ramnath said he didn’t want to say much because he would be a witness if the matter goes to court. Moonilal said he was there and witnessed exactly what had happened. “I was also shocked and I intervened. I intervened to restrain Dr Rowley and to firmly accompany him out of the room.” Moonilal said he had been contacted by the police to  whom he intended to give a statement.

Siparia MP, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, read out a letter from Sharma to House Speaker Barry Sinanan requesting the matter be sent to the House’s Committee of Privileges. She read out May’s  Parliamentary Practice which stated molestation of Members at the House was an offence which has in the past been punished. “Panday said: “Mr Sharma went to the doctor and has a medical certificate which indicates that he was assaulted.” The UNC distributed copies of a medical document to reporters. In it a doctor in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital stated that hospital tests showed an elevated blood sugar level at 318 mg/dL and soft tissue injury to the face cheek and right hand probably inflicted with a blunt object with mild to moderate force. Throughout the entire briefing, Sharma remained silent. The UNC declined to take questions from the media. After the briefing UNC MPs met Assistant Superintendant (ASP) Martin Morrain.