Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 9:11 AM
I write to dispel certain misconceptions that have been lingering over the last 12 months due to the fact that I have chosen not to respond PUBLICLY on this matter.
That I do so today is not only to set the record straight but to protect and defend the interests and work of many publicly spirited citizens of St Augustine as well as that of the staff and volunteer workers of the St Augustine Constituency Office who have all had to work beyond the call of duty in order to compensate for the continued absence of the elected councillor,Ms Ameen.
Ms Ameen is and has been for some time now, suffering from deep psychological and psychiatric problems for which she has been recieving treatment. This has resulted in alcohol abuse and a misplaced and delusionary sense of self importance as well as both voluntary and involuntary infliction of harm to herself.She sees ghosts and enemies where there are none.
I choose not to detail these isuues on this forum, at this time,but rest assured that I do not make these assertions either lightly or without basis. Several of her 'friends" have made representation to me that I should ignore her deriliction of duty on the basis that "she is on the edge" and although I empathise and sympathise with her and have spoken with her on the matter, I cannot continue to ignore the plight of the residents of St Augustine.
Over the last 12-15 months Ms Ameen has shown total contempt for both the Constituency office as well as the residents of St Augustine. She rarely, if ever, answers her phone and never responds to emails. Again, I do not make these claims lightly. She is an absentee councillor drawing two salaries.From Bamboo to Piarco, there is a stream of complaints against her.
She has had no input in any functions organised by the Constituency or in any mobilisation efforts on behalf of the Party even though her participation has been sought.
I have been personally forced to adopt the role of Councillor by meeting with residents in the Constituency on a daily basis and liasing directly with the Regional Corporation on their behalf to get even the most mundane of tasks attended to.
Both the Chairman, Mrs Mejias and the CEO, Mrs David will attest to this, as of course will several residents.
I have spoken to Ms Ameen on several occasions with regard to these matters but she has refused to accept responsibility for her actions and continues to dismiss the claims made against her.
This is one instance where the Regional Corporation cannot be held totally responsible for the lack of provision of goods and services to the residents of St Augustine. The Councillor has refused to function. It is as simple as that!
Her attendance at Statutory Conncil Meetings and the time she arrives for those which she attends, has been described by the Chaiman of the Council as a " representation of the contempt with which the Councillor treats the Council". These are the words of the Chairman of the Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation.
In a letter dated 19th May 2009 and addressed to The MP for St Augustine, the CEO of the Corporation, Mrs David highlighted that for the period Jan 08 to May 09, Ms Ameen was absent from 59 meetings of the Corporation and that those she attended, she was more often late than not.This is the forum at which decisions regarding resource allocation takes place. If you are not present, you cannot advocate on behalf of your constituents.
Residents have been forced to lobby the Corporation directly in order to get redress. One recent such occurence took place when the residents of Bamboo #2 attended a Statutory Meeting of the Council to voice their dissatisfaction with the Councillor.
It is not, nor has it ever been my intention to malign anyone's character but I will no longer stand idly by and watch in silence Ms Ameen portrays herself as a victim. She is the maker of her own self inflicted problems which she is attempting to deflect on others.
I have chosen to respond today, on this medium, for one reason only, and that is to defend my staff at the Constituency Office and several hard working volunteers, to whom a great injustice has been done as a result of Ms Ameen's continued distortion of reality and the facts and I stand ready, with detailed information, to expose any who continue to do so at the expense of those who are prepared to work silently and diligently for the benefit of our Party.
Sincerely
Vasant Bharath
MP St Augustine
