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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. FILE PHOTO –

Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar isn’t hurt, nor is she surprised over UNC councillor for Kelly Village/Warrenville Samuel Sankar’s decision to move closer to the PNM.

Her comments came hours after Sankar was spotted at the PNM’s public political meeting in Chaguanas on Tuesday night, where he was warmly welcomed from the platform.

It is unclear whether or not he has cut ties with his party.

When contacted, Sankar said “My people come first,” before Newsday had a chance to ask the first question.

He seemed to be in high spirits as he explained that he was on the phone with his lawyers and said he would make an official statement on the subject soon.

But on his Facebook page he hinted at his dissatisfaction with the quality of leadership under the UNC. On Wednesday morning, without naming the opposition leader, Sankar posted, “If your leadership can’t be questioned, then you are a questionable leader.”

Sankar could not be reached for further comment that day.

His latest move was heavily criticised under his social media post by UNC supporters. Few came to Sankar’s defence, but many called him out as “Judas.”

Contacted for a comment, Persad-Bissessar told Newsday she wishes Sankar well.

“We live in a democracy, and each person is free to choose where they want to be, in which party they want to be. I wish him good luck in his new endeavours.”

Asked if he is still a member of the UNC, Persad-Bissessar said, “Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know – have to check.”

Did she plan to meet with Mr Sankar?

“Why should I meet with him? He has made a decision without meeting me, and I’ll repeat my point: I wish him good luck in his future endeavours.”

She added: “There’s a new election to be held. We will screen candidates and we make those decisions. There is a new local government election coming up. People put their nominations in. He may put it for the PNM; they will choose them or not. And we have others who will put in their nominations.

“I’m not surprised and I’m not shocked. In politics and politickings I’m never surprised. Remember, a few months ago he attended a meeting so he’s free. This is a democracy. He’s free to choose where he wants to be pleased.”

She was referring to a local government reform consultation held on August 9 by Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi, where Sankar defied her order to stay away from the event. He was the only UNC councillor present.

Since then, there had been speculation that he was planning to cut ties with the UNC.

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Naparima MP Rodney Charles.

NAPARIMA MP Rodney Charles said that rather than host the National Security Council and police top brass on Monday at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, the Prime Minister should have met officials of the protective service associations.

In a statement on Tuesday, Charles said: “Yesterday’s National Security Council meeting was a waste of time – a whole meeting to tell us about greater police presence.”

He said Dr Rowley should have met Prison Officers Association head Ceron Richards, Fire Services Association head Leo Ramkissoon, Police Social and Welfare Association head acting ASP Gideon Dickson, Public Services Association head Leroy Baptiste and Lifeguards Branch head Augustus Sylvester.

He said these officials were “on the ground, know the real security challenges and are not afraid to speak truth to power.

“Instead of wasting an entire day to tell us nothing new, Rowley and his band of Cabinet misfits should have met with and frontally addressed the numerous complaints by Richards, Ramkissoon, Dickson, Baptiste and Sylvester who are in the trenches, represent security officers’ interests, and know first-hand the issues affecting our national security apparatus.”

Charles was unimpressed with Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds discourse on CNC3 News.

“Hinds cut a pathetic, irrelevant and uninspiring figure last evening. It was hard to watch.

“That meeting with representative bodies, together with the very creative national security solutions by Kamla Persad Bissessar at last night’s UNC virtual meeting, would have placed us in a much better position.”

He urged Rowley and Hinds to come down from their alleged high horses, heed the associations, and let real change occur.

Charles said Richards has complained that prison dormitories direly needed repairs, while prison vehicles needed upgrades.

“Annually, millions are spent but we see no improvement.”

Charles said Ramkissoon had complained that eight of the country’s 25 fire stations temporarily had no appliances, due to maintenance.

He said Dixon recently alleged a “lack of uniforms, bulletproof vests, office supplies like printers, paper, ink and stamps” in the police service.

Charles said Baptiste complained that immigration officers had not been paid overtime since 2019 while some travelling officers awaited their 2022 allowances.

“Augustus Sylvester has complained for years of a shortage of lifeguards, a lack of equipment and the deplorable state of lifeguard facilities.”

Charles complained lifeguards’ annual medical check up has been discontinued.

“We raise the same concerns year after year in Parliament but they are repeatedly and arrogantly ignored.

“A proper, mature, and more inclusive partnership will go a long way in ensuring that our national security apparatus functions effectively.

“What we have now is a disgrace. We cannot go on this way.”

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The Guyana Government will soon be undertaking a feasibility study on the establishment of a law school in the country.

According to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, this was a recommendation by the Council for Legal Education in the Caribbean region.

Back in September, the Council agreed to accept a proposal from Guyana to set up its own law school. The CLE subsequently outlined the requirements the country needed fulfil.

To this end, the Cabinet, last week, approved a decision that to proceed with satisfying these criteria which includes conducting a feasibility study as a recommended by the CLE.

AG Nandlall noted that a team will soon be assembled to being the work.

The CLE administers legal professional education in the Caribbean, through law schools such as the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago, where Guyanese law students are currently forced to attend. However, only the 25 top students are allowed each year into the programme.

With the cost of living in Trinidad deterring many persons from pursuing a legal career, the Government of Guyana now offers limited fully-funded scholarships to Hugh Wooding Law School.

Under the APNU/AFC administration, attempts were made to establish the Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence Haynes Law School but the CLE denied permission in late 2017.

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Former banker Everett Christian remains concerned about the National Asset Management Company’s continued lack of accountability.

The company, better known as NAMCO, was set up by the Browne Administration as a holding company for profits earned by other entities in which the Government and people have a share.

However, since its coming into being, very little about the entity has been made public – particularly its finances. No audited accounts have been presented to the Parliament, to date, in spite of calls by concerned citizens and members of the Opposition parties.

This state of affairs is the cause of Christian’s concern.

NAMCO simply creates another layer of bureaucracy, Christian points out – since, previously, profits from the various entities could be transferred directly to the Consolidated Fund.

Meanwhile, he says that, by law, the company should produce audited financial statements, and these should be submitted to the Minister responsible for NAMCO to be laid before the Parliament.

He adds that the people of Antigua and Barbuda should have access to these financial records, which would shed some light on the status of the funds NAMCO receives.

Christian believes, therefore, that the Administration is in breach of the Finance Administration Act – not just with regard to NAMCO, but to several of the statutory organizations.

Meanwhile – like United Progressive Party Political Leader Harold Lovell – Christian is rubbishing claims by Prime Minister Gaston Browne that there would be significant job losses if the company were to be suspended, audited and dissolved, as the UPP has promised to do, if elected. – REAL NEWS

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