FORMER APNU+AFC Councillor of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Carol Smith-Joseph last night debunked media reports that she had resigned from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). She also said that her resignation as a RDC councillor was not due to any disaffection with her party.
She stressed: “I have no problem with the PNC. I am still a member of the PNC and though not serving at the level of the RDC because I am hampered somewhat by my medical condition, I remain ready to serve the PNC and my country in any way possible or necessary,” she said. Smith-Joseph stressed that she had been a member of the PNC for the past 44 years and had no intention of changing her political loyalties at any time in the near or distant future. “Resign from the PNC?” she asked incredulously when contacted. She added: “That means I am dead.”
Lead APNU+AFC Councillor in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Joseph tendered her resignation from the RDC of the region by letter with effect from April 20th last. In a letter addressed to the Clerk of the RDC, Joseph did not indicate reasons for her resignation, but later in an interview with the Chronicle cited a health condition as being the main reason for her “ calling it a day.”
She last night again vehemently denied rumours that her resignation had to do with recent statements in the print medium and in social media by Staff Nurse Midwife Sherilyn Marks, who had accused her of abusing her authority as a regional councillor to get excessive quantities of pain-killing drugs for her medical condition. She said that the allegations which were published in certain sections of the media were examples of skewed and irresponsible journalism which has no basis in reality. She said that the insinuations were currently being examined by her lawyer with a view to taking legal action against the offending news outlets. In addition to the abuse-of-authority allegations, Joseph and Abel Seetaram are being investigated for alleged fraud at the Mahaicony-Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS).