Former government minister Robert Persaud’s seat on the PPP Executive Committee is vacant, the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee said yesterday.
Speaking at a press briefing at Freedom House, Rohee said Persaud’s seat was abandoned owing to “non-attendance.”
Prior to the May general and regional elections, Persaud’s involvement in the PPP had significantly waned as well as his political presence.
Persaud, a senior party member who held ministerial portfolios in the Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar administrations, was noticeably absent during the PPP/C’s unsuccessful election campaign and after its loss he did not join his former comrades in protesting the results.
In June, Rohee was asked about Persaud’s status in the party and had directed the reporter to ask an iNews representative who was present or go to Persaud himself. Persaud is reported to have a stake in iNews.
“Mr Robert Persaud wrote a letter to the PPP. The content of that letter has been discussed internally… [and] responded to and that is where the matter is at this point in time.
Any further inquiry into the matter, we respectfully suggest that it be directed to Mr Robert Persaud,” Rohee had stated, when pressed on the issue.
Meanwhile, Rohee also noted yesterday that the seat once occupied by the now deceased Navin Chandarpal was also vacant. He said filling these seats will be considered at a later date.
However, he stated, seats on the Central Committee once occupied by Persaud; Chandarpal and Omar Shariff, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of the Presidency and once the head of the PPP’s youth arm the Progressive Youth Organisation, have been filled by Bibi Shadick, Majeed Hussain and Harrinarine Baldeo.
Rohee said there was one additional seat vacant and it was formerly occupied by Hydar Ally, who had resigned; the Central Committee will be considering filling it at a later date.
