Now that he is leaving political office, Chandresh Sharma says he is looking forward to spending time with his children, especially his 25-year-old son, who is suffering from cancer.In an interview yesterday, Sharma declared total support for chairman of the South West Regional Health Authority, Dr Lackram Bodoe, his childhood friend, who has been selected by the United National Congress to contest the Fyzabad seat.
Sharma said since he became MP in 1991, he has won seven general elections for the UNC. Saying Bodoe has always supported him, Sharma now it was his turn to give support to Bodoe. Asked how he felt that he will now be demitting political office, Sharma responded: "There is always a human challenge to replace a sitting MP. That challenge was very well handled by the screening committee headed by Kamla Persad-Bissessar."
Sharma said he and Bodoe grew up in the same village at Siparia Old Road, Fyzabad and attended the Avocat Vedic School. When they wrote Common Entrance, Bodoe was the only person who passed for Naparima College. Sharma passed for Penal Junior Secondary School. Sharma said Bodoe later became a medical doctor and when Sharma was elected MP, Bodoe gave voluntary service at Sharma's community medical clinics.
"Lack was the best and I am very proud to see that he got selected," Sharma said. He added that 12 people, including himself were screened by the UNC's screening committee. Sharma said if he got the nod, he would have been happy to serve.Asked why he was not selected, Sharma said he believed the Prime Minister wanted him to spend more time with his son.
"It is no secret that my son is ill and receiving medical treatment. I did indicate to the Prime Minister when my son first became sick that I would be happy if a change takes place. Now that I am leaving office, I will be spending time with my children. Since 1991, I have never had a full-time vacation," Sharma said.
He said his children grew up in front of the Prime Minister and were very close to her and her husband Gregory Bissessar. Sharma said he planned to play an active part in the UNC campaign. His campaign team led by Haround Awardy, who worked with him since 1991, will now work with Bodoe, Sharma said.
"I will be involved in the campaign. People are thankful for the years I have served. I depart with a high level of joy and I will continue to be available," he said.
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In March last year, Sharma the then Tourism Minister was investigated by the police for the assault of his former girlfriend Sacha Singh, the managing director of AMS Biotech Security Concept and AmSure T&T Ltd. Singh said she was assaulted by Sharma in the car park of Grand Bazaar, near Toppers around 7.45 pm on March 12. Sharma was subsequently cleared of any criminal conduct after the police file was reviewed by Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard.
