CHARLES KONG SOO
Leader of the Congress of the People (COP) Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan is denying that the party had any connection with the data mining company, Cambridge Analytica (CA).
Speaking at a media briefing at Chancellor Hotel, St Ann's yesterday, she said “Since these revelations, myself and others in the COP undertook a review of all the party’s documentation inclusive of minutes and meetings.
“Based on those investigations, we are not aware of any contractual engagement between the Congress of the People and SCL or CA.
“At no point in time, as far as we are aware based on the documentation that we have reviewed, did the COP ever enter into any contractual engagement with any of these entities."
She added that at no point in time was the party’s funds used to pay for any activities in connection with those companies.
Seepersad-Bachan said that she spoke with former party leader Prakash Ramadhar on the matter, who acknowledged that he had had discussions regarding the party's imaging and membership listing.
She said Ramadhar indicated that there were discussions and some engagement between the COP and SCL, but moreso he was only aware of the issue of SCL.
Seepersad-Bachan said SCL was engaged by the party, discussions took place with respect to press releases and imaging for the 2013 local government elections.
She said at that point in time she was chairman of the party but she had no knowledge that it had engaged in consultancy to that extent.
Seepersad-Bachan said she was aware, however, that the party's vice vhairman Nicole Dyer-Griffith and Ramadhar were having discussions in terms of how they moved forward as a party, in terms of the image of the party.
Prakash: We had limited exposure to SCL
When Ramadhar was contacted last night for a comment, he said the company had absolutely nothing to do with Cambridge Analytica. Regarding SCL, he said that it was very limited exposure dealing with matters such as streamlining the party imaging and press releases for a short period of time and that was it.
Ramadhar reiterated that the party did not sign any contracts with CA.
Calls to Dyer-Griffith's phone went unanswered.
