APNU yesterday dropped one of its candidates for tomorrow’s polls following a controversy over child molestation claims, a day after senior coalition official and Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence downplayed the matter.
“In light of the alleged behaviour of Mr Winston Harding and the pattern of accusations over the years, his candidature cannot be supported at this time,” APNU, the major partner in the governing coalition, said in a statement. Harding is contesting for the first-past-the-post seat in Constituency 13 (East and West Ruimveldt) at tomorrow’s local government polls.
Stabroek News reported yesterday that the APNU+AFC coalition was facing criticism for fielding a candidate – Harding – who has been repeatedly charged—although not convicted—for child molestation.
Lawrence, when contacted by Stabroek News, had said that the allegations are a “family issue.” Oscar Clarke, the General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform, which is APNU’s largest constituent, when contacted by Stabroek News, had said that it was not an issue the party could do anything about at that time as the period for objections had passed.
