While Mayaro MP Rushton Paray was overseas on Wednesday, the UNC held its Budget Consultations in his constituency.
Meanwhile, Naparima MP Rodney Charles will also be out of the country when consultations are held in his area tonight.
Both MPs have said they were not consulted about the party’s Budget meetings in their respective constituencies.
It was the latest show of fracture between the party and the MPs, after Paray led the unsuccessful United Patriots slate which challenged the leadership’s Star team in the UNC’s June 15 executive elections.
When UNC’s Budget consultations were held in Ragbir’s Cumuto/Manzanilla district in July, he said neither he, his office staff nor constituency executive were informed.
Paray was absent.
After Ragbir wasn’t told of the Budget consultations in his constituency, Paray said he also wasn’t informed or consulted about any pre-budget consultations in his constituency and had found out “like the rest of T&T” that Mayaro’s event was scheduled for August 14. Paray said he offered to assist if needed, “but none was requested.” He said he remained committed “to my party and ready to assist if needed.”
On Wednesday, Paray said he was still overseas and no one had contacted him on the Budget consultations before his departure.
One person commenting on the UNC’s photos of the event, stated, “Very poor that this was planned to the exclusion of the sitting MP unlike in other constituencies.”
Charles, commenting yesterday on whether he was invited to or consulted on the party’s Budget consultations in his Naparima constituency tonight, said, “Invited?! Not at all. I’m not in any way involved in the planning of the event. In any case, I’ll be out of the country on the date set for Naparima and have so advised the leadership. I wish them every success.”