Chairman of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Daniel Seeram, should do the decent thing and resign from the PNCR amid allegations that he assaulted his wife, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton declared yesterday at his party’s press briefing.
His disclosure followed questions by journalists since Seeram is also an executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
Norton said, “As it relates to the resignation, I think Daniel Seeram understands the nature of what has happened, and yes, it is true that it is not the first time we have heard about it and we will leave it to him to do the decent thing”.
Norton pointed out that his party consists of predominantly women, and it therefore means that neither he nor his party can encourage such behaviour meted out towards women and as such it must be condemned.
According to the Opposition Leader his party does not condone violence of any kind especially the domestic variety.
“We vehemently oppose this kind of behaviour especially with women involved and the party plans to take the matter up for discussion” he told reporters.
While the Opposition Leader is recommending that Seeram resign, he made it clear that Regional Chairman will not be forced into doing so.
“We are going to engage the Central Executive Committee on this, and if we say Seeram has to go then he must go, but we don’t make any premature disclosures before addressing it”, he said.
Stabroek News on Thursday reported that the Region Four chairman is to be charged with assaulting his wife.
According to the Commander of ‘A’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean, there were two reports of assault, one involving Seeram and the other, his wife. It was explained that Seeram reported that he was assaulted by his wife, while she made a report that he assaulted her.
“… both Mr. Seeram and his wife made allegations of assault committed on each other. They had an altercation. police investigated”, he said.
These two incidents, according to the Commander, occurred on Monday in the Cummings Lodge area in the wee hours of the morning.
Commander McBean informed that after the matter was investigated, the file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice and it was advised that Seeram be charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.
“A report was submitted for advice from DPP. We received feedback sometime yesterday for some additional work to be done and it’s also indicated that there is enough evidence to charge him for assault causing actual bodily harm.”
McBean noted also that DPP has also requested that a further investigation to be carried out in relation to the involvement of a gun during the assault.
Back in March 2022, Seeram was released on $20,000 bail for allegedly threatening his father-in-law with a gun during a heated argument.
That matter was reportedly settled.
Meanwhile People’s Progressive Party General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, yesterday at his party’s press conference, when asked about the issue was reluctant to speak as he believed his comments would come under vehement attacks by the PNCR and be deemed politicised.
Instead, he said that anyone accused of perpetuating domestic violence or any form of violence against women should face the full brunt of the law.
According Jagdeo his party doesn’t condone any form of violence meted out against women.
Former Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, was earlier this year accused of raping a girl but the case was dropped based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Dharamlall has since resigned.
