Prakash Ramadhar is refusing to step down as Congress of the People (COP) leader.
The COP’s Youth Congress had called on Ramadhar to give up the leadership post hours after the party faced a crushing defeat at the polls last Monday.
The COP captured one of eight seats which it contested, and this angered the Youth Congress. In a press release, the group stated that the party had gone from a position of strength to zero credibility.
Yesterday, PRO of the COP Patricia Metivier responded to the issue raised by the Youth Congress at a press conference at Flagship House, St Clair.
She said the party found it strange that the group, comprising four members, would ask Ramadhar to resign when they failed to participate in the party’s affairs and events.
“I don’t know what is their agenda. Is either they come on board or decide they do not want to be part of this anymore,” Metivier said.
Ramadhar said there was a “motivating force behind” the press release, but he intended to recommit and rebuild to take the party forward.
He said he was “disappointed” with the election results.
“We expected that the people would have voted in support of the People’s Partnership. We are down but not out. We will consolidate and recommit to make ourselves more attractive and lovable.”
Ramadhar said at one point he wanted to fight the Tunapuna seat instead of St Augustine.
However, he said, if he did not capture the Tunapuna seat, the COP would not have had a seat and voice in Parliament, which could have led to the party’s death.
He said the COP would continue to work hard as they prepared for the next election.