Anti-Anil petition reaches 2,500

Nicholas Thompson started the petition on Saturday evening on the website change.org and it is entitled “Petitioning Hon Kamla Persad-Bissessar MP, SC — Prime Minister Trinidad and Tobago: Immediately revoke the ministerial portfolio of Anil Roberts.”

The petition cites the findings of the Finance Ministry audit of the Life Sport programme, “which unearthed massive corruption”and a video which has since gone viral on several social networking websites, as reasons for the PM to give Roberts the axe. In a matter of a few hours yesterday the number of signatures jumped by 200.

Thompson, speaking to Newsday in an online interview, said he was, “absolutely disgusted by the uncouth behavior” of persons in authority. He pointed that the Sport Minister had publicly said that he would resign once allegations against the Life Sport programme were proven.

He stressed Roberts cannot abdicate responsibility and blame others. On the minister’s claim that he did not know what was happening in the programme, Thompson said, “well he should definitely be fired for not knowing what is taking place in his own ministry.”

The People’s National Movement, the Independent Liberal Party, former head of the Public Service, Reginald Dumas, and the Movement for Social and Justice (MSJ) have all called for Roberts to be axed. The MSJ is scheduled to today picket outside the Sport Minister’s office at Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.

Thompson said he feels confient the Prime Minister will heed all calls, from the average man in the street to those in politics, to fire Roberts from her Cabinet.