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Dharamlall’s replacement to be named by weekend
Kaieteur News – President Mohamed Irfaan Ali at a press conference on Wednesday announced that a replacement of disgraced former Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall will be made known before the week ends.
Former Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall
Ali was at the time responding to a question about the former minister’s replacement. Ali responded, “…before the end of this week I will be making some announcements which include the reassignment and assignment of the responsibility of that portfolio.”
Reporters also asked if government will grant Dharamlall another job. “…the minister who is a citizen having any work in government is not something I have considered or he has requested,” Ali said.
Ali, before giving his response made sure that he let reporters know that he does not have any power in his party, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to choose who is fit to lead or not. “The leadership of this party is decided by members of this party, at a congress, every leader of this party is elected at [Congress],” the president told reporters.
Dharamlall landed in hot waters after reports of him allegedly raping and sodomising a 16-year-old indigenous schoolgirl surfaced last month. The child eventually made an official police report against the minister which led to his arrest and a subsequent investigation into the allegations.
A file was prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali Hack SC. for legal advice but she returned it advising that police conduct further investigation. Investigators had contacted the girl for more statements but she reportedly gave them “a no further action statement”, according to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum.
Kaieteur News later learnt that the girl did not wish to proceed with the matter against the minister. The file was returned to the DPP and after reviewing it for a second time she reportedly said that “as a result of the 16-year-old girl withdrawing her rape complaint against Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, there is no “legal provision” for the matter to proceed”.
Just hours after her statement, President Ali who was at the time attending a CARICOM heads of Government event in Trinidad and Tobago, publicly announced that Dahramlall had resigned from his post as Local Government Minister. “This evening, you’ve seen the statement from the DPP in which she has advised that she will not proceed on any charges against the minister based on all that is before her” Ali had said while adding, “However, Minister Dharamall has advised that he will tender his resignation as the interest of the government is important to him and he will not want anyone to bring the government into disrepute.”
Ali said he accepted Dhramlall’s resignation as a Cabinet Member and a Member of Parliament”.
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