Former justice minister Herbert Volney said yesterday his main beef is with the Congress of the People and this is why he has sought to remove himself from under the People's Partnership whip in the Parliament.

In an interview with the Express, Volney also slammed Acting President Timothy Hamel-Smith whom he accused of taking a "COP" position on the issue of Section 34.

"I find fault in the COP's method of governance. Their new politics is 'back stabbing' and I would have no part of them, no participation in the People's Partnership Government with them," Volney stated.

"You have to understand what happened," he said. He explained when the proclamation of Section 34 went before Cabinet for confirmation and he (Volney) was out of the country, the acting Justice Minister was Prakash Ramadhar.

"It was Minister Ramadhar who is the one who led the assault on me in my absence on the day when I was fired when I was asked to recuse myself from the Cabinet (meeting). The kinds of things I understand that were said (in that Cabinet meeting) and that have gotten back to me, it was clear that the Prime Minister had a choice between five people walking or one person being fired."

He said it was the problems with the Congress of the People (Ministers) who undermined him in the Cabinet in his absence, led him to take the decision that he could not continue to be under the whip of the People's Partnership Government.

"I am under the UNC. That is the distinction. I remain a committed member of the UNC and a UNC Member of Parliament. But the Government is the People's Partnership Government, with a People's Partnership Government leader of business whip.

"So the dynamics of political engagement have shifted, have changed with my dismissal. I am no longer in the Government. So I see no reason why and my constituents have told me that there is no good reason why I need to remain under the whip.

"They want me to be free to speak for the constituency as and when the opportunity arises. Under the Government whip I could not do that," he said.

He said if he felt uncomfortable about any legislation he was free now not to follow the Whip.

"I am not a child and I resent the way that I was treated. I have done absolutely nothing wrong. I didn't tief money, I was not corrupt. ... If the basis of firing me was as what was stated, then every member of the Cabinet should have been fired," he said.

Told that it was the Prime Minister who dismissed him, Volney said: "No, no. My firing had to do with the COP. She chose to go with the COP rather than stand with one of her number."

He said notwithstanding his dismissal, he remained loyal to the Prime Minister "whose heart was in the right place" but who was "overcome by bad advice" and the "wrangling for power by the COP".

Volney reiterated that Attorney General Anand Ramlogan had no responsibility in the matter as it "was a collective decision of the Cabinet".

On Hamel-Smith's statement on the issue, Volney said he was getting involved in the politics while acting as President and "giving a political opinion".

He said the President who signed the proclamation said nothing about the issue, but Hamel-Smith did, taking a COP position.

Volney said while he would attend party rallies, he would not be attending any party caucus because they are caucuses of the People's Partnership.

He was asked how would he know what was the UNC's position on any issue to which he replied that he would find out what is the UNC position on a matter by speaking to the Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal "with whom I have an excellent relationship".

So as long as Moonilal tells him what is the UNC position, would he would lean to that position or would he have an independent position?

"No. I am a UNC MP, I have to follow the UNC line. Once he tells me the UNC is behind this, I will not stand against it. If I am to stand against it then the moral thing to do is to leave the House (resign)," he said.

Volney said his constituents wanted him to speak for St Joseph "without any bridle on my mouth", but they wanted him to remain "a UNC in the House".

He said he had already notified the Speaker of his position and the letter was being sent out yesterday.

House Speaker Wade Mark confirmed he received correspondence from Volney but declined to say more, stating that he was still to speak with the St Joseph MP about his letter.