While the ruling People’s National Movement has expressed disappointment at the situation involving former senator Hafeez Ali — after news of a sex tape involving him was leaked online — Ali himself says he is disheartened by some of the information “out there” about it and public comments about him.
But while expressing disappointment at the situation yesterday, PNM chairman Franklin Khan said personally, colleagues were in support of Ali and would help him to “get the counselling he needs.”
The respective parties — and others connected to the matter — spoke yesterday after Ali was replaced in the Senate following his resignation as senator last Friday.
The 43-year-old Ali resigned after a social media video of him displaying sexually explicit behaviour surfaced online last week.
Yesterday, Ali confirmed the matter had been reported to the police last Friday as an alleged extortion attempt. He, however, distanced himself from reports on the issue in the Newsday.
Sounding somewhat dispirited, Ali said: “I’m feeling very disheartened about some of the information on this issue out there and as well about some of the public comments being made about me but the real information will come to light.” He said the episode was only “ten seconds.”
But Ali declined to speak about relatives’ reactions or how his family — he has four daughters and a son — was coping with the developments.
Ali is listed on PNM’s website as a teacher and principal at Nur E Islam mosque in San Juan over 1999 to 2002. His grandfather was the late Imam Razack Ali of the Nur E Islam Mosque and his parents owned business in the areas.
The T&T Guardian learned yesterday that several members of the Muslim community in his area have called Ali to express “deep concern” about the video and reports.
Khan yesterday told reporters Ali had spoken to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley about the leaked online video after it became known to “key people in the party.” He said Rowley and Ali had discussed it and Ali had resigned.
Khan said the right to hire or fire ministers and appoint senators was in the PM’s domain but Ali’s resignation was not requested since he had indicated the intention to resign. Khan added: “Obviously, based on the circumstances (of his resignation) we are disappointed something like this has happened but it’s a personal matter and we don’t want to delve deeper.”
He said he was certain Ali was “very regretful.” But, he sai, he was also certain that Ali, a young man, would learn that “things happen in life” and one had to move on and deal with it.
“From a personal note, we all support him and his going to counselling and are giving him all the support he needs,” he added.
Khan said Ali was still co-ordinator of PNM’s Barataria-San Juan unit and the party leadership had not yet adjudicated on that aspect.
PNM constituency chairman, Joseph Ross, didn’t answer calls yesterday regarding how the unit felt about the situation concerning its co-ordinator. Deputy chairman Kwesi Antoine, meanwhile, said he could not say if the unit would meet to discuss the Ali issue.