UNC stands by Councillor Anil Maharaj

Cumuto / Tamana Councillor Anil Maharaj has resigned from a position within the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, but it is not the resignation his colleagues on the opposing side are calling for.

AKASH SAMAROO

Cumuto / Tamana Councillor Anil Maharaj has resigned from a position within the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, but it is not the resignation his colleagues on the opposing side are calling for.

In fact, Maharaj, who was charged with misbehaviour in public office, only tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Finance, Planning and Allocation of Resources Committee. He has not offered to leave his post as Councillor for Cumuto / Tamana as was demanded by PNM Councillors yesterday. Nor has his party asked for his resignation.

That’s according to UNC PRO Dr Kirk Meighoo, who said that Councillor Maharaj intends to robustly defend these allegations and vindicate his reputation. When pressed as to why the UNC has not asked Maharaj to step down, Dr Meighoo said the party is reviewing past incidents involving PNM elected officials and criminal charges.

“The party is reviewing past incidents where councillor Terry Rondon had been charged and appeared before the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court facing with three counts of indecent assault against a female soldier assigned to the United States Air Force, and his subsequent elevation by the PNM to Chairman of the Corporation,” Meighoo told Guardian Media.

Meighoo added that UNC Councillors have announced their full support of Maharaj and have expressed confidence in his innocence based on his character.