The COP's Diego Martin West unit-and Diego Martin Regional Corporation (DMRC) officials -have called for the removal of UNC corporation chairman Anthony Sammy following last Thursday's aborted corporation meeting. COP councillor Ricky Garcia, chairman of the corporation's finance committee and COP Diego Martin West chairman Satuy Ramacharan called for review of Sammy's post after he failed to show for last week's corporation meeting. Garcia confirmed several UNC councillors left after Sammy failed to attend the meeting. The corporation is controlled by the UNC, headed by Sammy, and includes three COP councillors and three PNM councillors. However, the corporation is described as being "hopelessly split" on Sammy with UNC and some COP councillors wanting Sammy to be retained while two COP councillors and three PNMites want him removed. COP's Diego Martin West executive met to discuss the corporation's situation and its implications for the constituents.
COP's Ramcharan said in a statement: "The breakdown of the April 28 statutory meeting which has resulted in the inability to ratify the work programme for the following month, poses a serious threat to the constituency's stability." Ramcharan added: "The chairman's unexcused absence was only heightened by a collective excusal of several members of the council resulting in a lack of quorum. "This apparent dereliction of duty has all but effectively halted the DMRC's function and calls into question the chairman's ability to effectively manage the corporation."
The COP unit called on the Prime Minister and Local Government Minister to act "against those elected and selected members of DMRC who unilaterally and in conjunction with the chairman worked to undermine the duly constituted body." COP's Diego Martin West unit claimed the situation was the latest in a series of "incidents" and allegations concerning Sammy Yesterday, Sammy said he was ill the day of the meeting. He added: "This is a storm in a teacup. I'll convene another meeting shortly. This issue concerns the agenda of some councillors. "It's bringing the corporation into disrepute. Any issue people have they are free to talk to the CEO and administrator about it."