Following is the full text of a letter sent by Congress of the People (COP) member Anil Roberts to Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan on June 3rd. Roberts became the subject of a controversy when a video was published showing someone bearing his resemblence handling what appeared to be marijuana.
Dear Madam,
RE: Your reports to the media of the ‘suspension’ of Hon. Anil Roberts from the Congress of the People
I am forced to write you as I woke up this morning to several reports in the print and electronic media that I had been ‘suspended’ from the Congress of the People political party. Suffice to say, some 15 hours after which the decision was allegedly made and conveyed to the national media in time to find its way into the printed daily press of all three national Dailies, as of 12:00 noon, today the 3rd June, 2014, I am yet to receive any notification from you or your representative about this reported state of affairs. Indeed, rather than take the time to pen me the contents of your alleged decision, I have received several reports that you were heard ‘gallerying’ yourself on the radio this morning, alleging that the party had taken action. Apparently, it is a lot easier to pontificate about procedure and transparency than to adhere to same.
I have to make a few short points:-
1) I was invited to a discussion on Thursday 30th May, 2014, and it was not made clear what allegation or case I had to answer, if any. Indeed, it was never represented to me that any adverse finding or action would be taken against me.
2) I have now read reports that the meeting was a ‘Committee’ set up by you, of which you were the ‘head’. Clearly, you ought to recuse yourself, as you have been widely reported in the very newspapers, indeed you are quoted in the Guardian Newspaper for the very 30th May, 2014 saying, “We may have a discussion with him and find out from the others what they want to do but to me it is a very straightforward issue,” Seepersad-Bachan said.” Clearly, you pre-judged the issue, and ought not to have placed yourself in a position to purport to make decisions about me.
3) Kindly advise under what power under the Constitution you have purported to ‘suspend’ me.
It is my position that not only you have absolutely no power to so do, but in any event, your actions and that of the Committee are fundamentally flawed, and are more aimed at creating a veneer of some sort of action having been taken to placate others. Unfortunately, this sort of ineffectual action is what has come to typify your leadership.
I look forward to receiving clarification on the above items. Yours sincerely,
Anil O. E. Roberts