The main parliamentary opposition party, the APNU, has hammered President Irfaan Ali’s statement accepting the resignation of his embattled Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall, stating that the President never expressed any concern for the child, who made the rape allegations against his Minister.
In a statement this morning, the APNU said the President expressed “no remorse or sympathy” towards the young girl who had filed a Police complaint about being raped and sexually assaulted by the now former Minister. The teen later told investigators that she no longer wished to pursue the matter. That decision prompted the DPP to advise the Police to discontinue the investigations, and the Minister submitted his resignation moments later.
In a statement last evening, the President said he has accepted the resignation of the Minister who said he was stepping down from office in the interest of the Government.
The APNU said the President did not express any concern that the criminal justice and child protection systems in the country malfunctioned with their probe of the rape allegations
The Opposition said the President appeared more concerned about the image of his Government than the state of the teenager who filed the complaint.
According to the APNU, “President Ali’s statement exposes the moral bankruptcy and self-obsession of the PPP regime. The PPP is not interested in justice, accountability, and the rule of law. The PPP is instead bent on putting its self-interest above the human and constitutional rights and welfare of our children, women, and citizenry as a whole”.
The Opposition said citizens must not let their memories and sense of moral outrage fade over the acts of atrocities.
The APNU was among the groups of protesters that picketed outside the President’s office, calling for the resignation of the Minister and for justice to be done in the matter.
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