…wants probe into sister-in-law’s firing
CONGRESS of the People (COP) D’Abadie/O’Meara MP Anil Roberts is locked in a row with his political leader Prakash Ramadhar over the delay in probing the role former Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) board member attorney Kevin Ratiram played in the firing of Robert’s sister-in-law, Lara de Sonpere from her post as corporate secretary of the TDC.
Ratiram, who is a member of the COP, was appointed a member of the TDC board last year and was said to be among a three-member human resource committee which took the decision to rescind the three-year contract of de Sonpere, who was hired by the PNM administration in 2009.
De Sonpere is married to Robert’s brother, Shastri.
Reports are that Roberts, who is Minister of Sport, wrote to both Ramadhar and COP chairman Joseph Toney three months ago calling on them to investigate why Ratiram was among the TDC officials who took the decision to rescind de Sonpere’s contract last November.
Roberts had previously raised the issue of his sister-in-law’s firing at the level of the Cabinet. This led to the eventual disbanding of the entire TDC board.
A TDC source said that Ratiram was allegedly behind the move to fire de Sonpere and warned former chairman George Stanley Baird to desist from making a three-month ex gratia payment to her.
The board reportedly took a decision based on an alleged legal opinion from Ratiram not to renew de Sonpere’s contract. The south attorney allegedly took strong objection to any payments being made to de Sonpere.
A source said that the new TDC board, which was officially installed on Monday, will be asked to look into the dismissal of de Sonpere.
A party official said Roberts has indicated that he will not attend any of the party’s activities until Ratiram is investigated, and since then he has stayed away from National Assembly and National Council meetings and from the walkabouts by his political leader.
TnT Mirror in an exclusive report on December 4, 2011, said Cabinet took a decision at its weekly meeting to fire the TDC board, which was said to have been triggered by the controversial dismissal of de Sonpere.
Roberts had called on the Cabinet to investigate the circumstances which led to the firing of de Sonpere.
The Sports Minister argued at a Cabinet meeting that the dismissal of de Sonpere was unjustified, claiming that the Human Resources Department had extended her contract for three years but the board took a decision based on a legal opinion not to renew her contract as company secretary and head of the legal department.
He also alleged that his sister-in-law was abused and vilified by certain TDC officials.
Cabinet later set up a committee of four Ministers to investigate the dismissal, which is said to be still ongoing.
A rift began to brew between Baird and other members of the board who did not want to renew de Sonpere’s contract but they went ahead and terminated her employment anyway.
Baird reportedly instructed the CEO Sandra Perkins to disregard the board’s decision to fire de Sonpere, leading to the fallout.
When contacted, Roberts confirmed that he had written to COP leader Ramadhar calling on him and Toney to investigate Ratiram for the part he played in the dismissal of de Sonpere.
He admitted that he had not attended meetings since last November and is waiting a report from his political leader.
“I have no problem which way the matter goes, but I want an investigation,” he said.
However, Ramadhar told TnT Mirror that the party has completed the probe and there is a report to be shared with Roberts.
