NEWSDAY APRIL 02, 2 K14 EDITORIAL He had to go Wednesday, April 2 2014 Having regard to the serious and damning nature of the allegations of assault and battery against MP for Fyzabad, Chandresh Sharma, it is clear that he was left with little option but to tender his resignation as Tourism Minister. The police investigation into the accusatory statement made by his ex-girlfriend businesswoman Sacha Singh is underway, but we agree with the position adopted by the Congress of the People that it was incumbent upon Mr Sharma to demit office until his name was cleared. Sharma has acknowledged that “public life comes with a level of scrutiny and expectation that does not allow for consideration of your version of events.” His resignation is recognition of that stark reality. The Prime Minister in accepting Sharma’s resignation has stated that each member of her administration must be mindful that her government is held to different, higher standards than ever before and that there is no privileged escape, no allowance for arrogance, no forgiveness for indiscretion. She has asserted that her Government is stronger than ever because of tough decisions taken and has concluded that the population can breathe easier today, confident in the knowledge that value-based leadership will never be compromised. We commend Mrs Persad-Bissessar for not hesitating, for insisting that standards must be upheld. There have been too many instances in the past where prime ministers previous have turned a blind eye to the conduct of their regime’s officials to pay no mind to integrity in public life, despite the public outcry. With the exception of Jack Warner, this Prime Minister has acted promptly against offending ministers. We note with no little irony that Mr Warner has expressed hope that the PM remains consistent “and begins to clean the stables of the other ministers,” when for several years he refused to bend to public calls for him to step down in the face of substantial evidence of impropriety related to his FIFA career. In his usual reference to a cabal, Warner has insisted that the PM “may still save her Government” if she dismisses those ministers in the “cabal” who are guilty of corruption. Though a year is a long time in politics, it is difficult to conclude that her latest actions are a guarantee of a second-term. While on the one hand she must be lauded for setting new standards in public life, contrarily the removal of 15 ministers gives credence to the observations that this is a government by vaps and also places in question the judgement and selection criteria of the Prime Minister. To be fair, leadership was thrust upon her when a snap election was called in 2010 and winning a general election was understandably her principal focus. But perception is reality in the game of politics and the perception is that the PP’s rule has been unsteady. The population may be finding it challenging if not impossible to breathe easy. Already the PNM is smelling blood. Its Public Relations Officer Senator Faris Al-Rawi was graphic in his summation of the state of affairs. “The PNM considers all of the past and most recent scandals in the UNC as evidence of the foul decomposition and rot that has set into the carcass of the People’s Partnership,” he surmised. His leader Dr Keith Rowley has opined that the Government is on the verge of collapse. Neither observation is really that far-fetched. With the loss of two ministers within the space of one week, the PP appears to be tottering in the wind and may not be able to withstand further political body blows. Time will ultimately be the arbiter. We also wish to condemn any smear campaign against Ms Sacha Singh which surfaced last evening with the publication of pictures on the internet. It is easy to victimise the victim and thus distract from the grave matter at hand: disturbing allegations of domestic violence. Ms Singh has alleged she was slapped and pushed; that she blacked out and suffered a concussion. Insult should not be added to injury.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 15:36:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015