PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament (MP) Honourable Sylvia Meyers, who is also President of the United People's (UP) Party Board, says non-governmental organizations or not got profit bodies should not allow themselves to be used for political agendas during the election campaign.
MP Meyers was referring to the unintentional snub by an organization that represents Indian businesses on the island. One candidate is running on a political party of the Prime Minister.
"An event was organized for August 18 to celebrate India Independence Day. At the same time, the Indian Ambassador was visiting the country and would also be at the event. An invitation was extended only to the Prime Minister to attend this activity.
"From the information that I have, no formal invitation was extended to the President of Parliament nor the Governor. This is a gross violation of protocol. Whether it was a lapse, oversight, what have you, it shouldn't have happened, and especially when in the past protocol was fully observed.
"Such a violation in protocol would lead to an official protest being lodged with Indian authorities, because it is also an embarrassment for the Indian Ambassador when two representatives of the constitutional entity of the country were not formally invited, only the Prime Minister.
"That's why I say, not for profit organizations should keep an arm's length from politics, because some will try to take advantage of you. I think for the organization in question this is a learning experience for them, and in the future protocol will be observed in the manner that it should with respect for the institutions of the country," President of the UP Party MP Sylvia Meyers pointed out on Monday.
United People's (UP) Party Board – GO GREEN