Prakash needs to stand up and lead

“Prakash Ramadhar, my leader needs to stand up and lead,” says Minister of Sport Anil Roberts. He said he is worried about the leadership of Congress of the People (COP) and how he is being represented by the political party. He repeated the concern he expressed on Friday that “all of them seem to heading for the office in St Ann’s.”

Roberts spoke with reporters during the March for Jesus 2012 from San Juan to the Queen’s Park Savannah yesterday. He said he did not understand why Nalini Dial was being allowed to comment on issues as a member of COP. “I will not stand here as a member of the COP and let people like Nalini Dial, the most insensitive person here on God’s green earth, make statements on behalf of me as a member of the COP,” he said.

Roberts also questioned the role of COP members Robert Meyers and Vernon De Lima. “Nalini Dial is leading closely followed by Robert Meyers. Where he come out from? I thought he was sleeping in some political dirt nap. Where did he come out from?” he asked.

He described the party as indiscipline and called for stronger leadership as he believed the COP is appearing “wilder than a J’Ouvert band on Carnival Monday morning. “I need my leader to gain some control and put some structure to what we are doing,” he said.

Roberts said the press release issued by deputy political leader of COP, Dr Anirudh Mahabir, after the Government removed protesters of the Highway Re-Route Movement was an example of his disappointment with the current state of affairs in the party. “As soon as I get it on my Blackberry, I called my leader and he had no clue about a press release. I am deeply worried because it seems you putting the cart before the horse and he needs to take control,” he said.

“He did not know that a major release on a national issue had been disseminated by Anirudh Mahabir. “The last time I checked he is a deputy political leader and my leader stated three weeks ago, the only people who will speak officially on behalf of the Congress of the People, the only people who will be able to disseminate official messages on behalf the Congress of the People is the political leader and Joseph Toney the chairman,” he said.