Bharath: Room for everyone in UNC

Anyone who wants to join the United National Congress (UNC), including Anil Roberts, can do so, Trade, Investment and acting Communication Minister Vasant Bharath says. His statement came on the heels of Roberts’s suspension from the Congress of the People (COP) on Monday over his failure to co-operate with the party in the controversial ganja video matter.

Asked yesterday whether there was room for Roberts in the UNC, Bharath said: “That’s a very difficult question to answer. There’s room for everyone in the UNC. The UNC has always been a very inclusive organisation and we welcome everyone to join the party.” Bharath was speaking during the coffee break at the 2014 CIBC First Caribbean Infrastructure Conference hosted by the First Caribbean International Bank at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain.

Asked if the suspension would have a negative impact on the People’s Partnership, Bharath said: “I don’t think it would have any impact at this point in time until a decision has been finalised with regard to Mr Roberts. The Prime Minister has pronounced on that and there is very little that I can add other than what she has said.” 

Giving an update on the investigations concerning the Sport for Life programme, Bharath said it was ongoing and within one week the investigations were expected to be concluded. Referring to the ganja video, he said it also was being investigated. Asked about the quick action taken against former ministers Chandresh Sharma and Glenn Ramadharsingh, Bharath said similar action could not be taken against Roberts.

He explained: “Police reports were made on those two matters (Ramadharsingh and Sharma). This has not been the case as far as I am aware with anyone. “The Prime Minister has to consider the gravity of the issue. At the end of the day you can’t have a situation where every single accusation made against every government minister would be acted upon by the Prime Minister.

“It has to be based on some factual information. We are not going to be diverted from the work of the Government. Decisions must be made on fact.”