Senior Political Reporter
UNC chairman Dave Tancoo says he will be sending to the police, a copy of the resignation letter from Siparia West councillor Jason Ali—who resigned from the party on Thursday—as the letter contained allegations of human trafficking and corruption.
In the letter, Ali claimed he was being “victimised.”
This, was after he contested the UNC’s recent national executive elections on Mayaro MP Rushton Paray’s United Patriots slate.
Ali contested the post of research officer. He lost to Sean Sobers of the Star team, which was backed by UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Ali, in his resignation letter, said, “The decision is not one I have taken lightly but I’m left with no choice due to the continuous victimisation I’ve been enduring since exercising my democratic right to contest a seat on the national executive in the previous elections.”
Ali claimed since then, he had been “systematically isolated from the UNC, removed from all official party WhatsApp groups and denied access to crucial information regarding party business.”
Ali said despite “multiple requests,” Tancoo had failed to meet with him to address these concerns.
“Leaving me marginalised within the very organisation I once dedicated myself to serving,” he claimed.
Ali said it was “deeply troubling to see the UNC being so poorly managed and organised.” He made allegations about certain things which he claimed “were swept under the rug.”
Ali claimed the party leadership refused to deal with these matters “and there seemed to be a pervasive culture of denial and avoidance, which has led the UNC into a state of implosion.”
He claimed the party had devolved into a “quasi-religious cult where the political leader is worshipped and anyone who dares express a contrary opinion is ostracised and treated as an enemy.”
Ali said constituents elected him to address the many challenges they face but he’d come to the “sad realisation” that the UNC, as it stands, “is more focused on serving the narrow interests of a few rather than the needs of the people.”
Ali said he could no longer be part of, “an organisation that has lost its way, is failing to uphold the values it once stood for and refuses to deal with the rot that’s eating away at its core.”
He said he’ll continue to serve his constituents even if it means doing so outside of the UNC’s frameworks.
Tancoo said he received the letter on Thursday night and since Ali made allegations about certain issues—alleged corruption, human trafficking—he hoped Ali had sent that to the police. Tancoo said he intends to send a copy of the letter to the police for investigation.
“Ali also claimed to have made requests to meet me and when I checked the record, there was no such request from him,” Tancoo added.
On whether Ali’s resignation would affect the Siparia Borough Corporation’s operations, Tancoo said he noted that while Ali resigned from the UNC, he intends to continue working as a Siparia West councillor—a position which he assumed on a UNC ticket in Local Government elections.
“I assume he will respond to his burgesses’ needs. As for what is in the future—and whichever side he chooses—is left to be seen,” Tancoo added.
Ali didn’t answer calls on the issue yesterday.