When the General Political Discussions commenced in parliament on Thursday
it seemed as if the VHP was the only coalition party. The VHP could not count on
the support of coalition partner ABOP. The leader of the ABOP faction in parliament,
Obed Kanapé, even went on the offense as he poetically criticized President
Chandrikapersad Santokhi who is also the chairman of the VHP. The president
was blamed for everything that is wrong within the government and the policy of
his administration.
MP Kanapé never pointed his finger at his own party which is also a coalition
partner of the VHP. MP Asiskumar Gajadien (VHP) who is the leader of the VHP
faction tried to defend the government. MP Kanapé criticized the president for
appointing deputy ministers and assigning them to ministries that are run by the
ABOP. He also questioned the decisions that are made by the state council which
is chaired by the president. MP Kanapé explained that the law clearly states which
decisions can be made by the Council of Ministers but that the state council has
gone rogue.
MP Mahinder Jogi, acting leader of the VHP faction hit back at the ABOP faction
and defended the president’s decision to appoint deputy ministers by stating that
he is entitled to do so if he believes that the ministers perform poorly. It quickly
became clear that the VHP is currently on its own in parliament. Only MP Evert
Karto (Pertjajah Luhur) went easy on the government’s policy. All of the factions
except for the VHP aimed their criticism at President Santokhi.