THE People’s National Party (PNP) yesterday said it took serious issue with the “kangaroo court approach” with which Michael Troupe, councillor for the Granville Division, was suspended from the St James Municipal Corporation for three months.

According to the Opposition, the corporation members voted along strict political lines on Thursday to suspend Troupe.

The veteran PNP councillor was suspended for allegedly bringing the corporation into disrepute. He will not be paid by the corporation during the period of suspension, neither will he be allowed to attend meetings.

The PNP said in a release yesterday that the approach to Troupe’s suspension “was not in strict adherence to due process and natural justice”. The party said the corporation’s vote was “highly irregular, and does not appear to have met the most basic of requirements”.

“While Councillor Troupe was aware of the resolution which was tabled on January 11, 2018, neither he nor the other PNP councillors were presented with the particulars of the allegations until during the debate yesterday (Thursday). This clearly breached several rules, as [this] would not have afforded him the opportunity to put forward a proper defence,” the release said. “At a minimum, charging and sentencing an individual, in these circumstances, is a breach of due process and the principles of natural justice, and is tantamount to an abuse of power driven by crass, partisan political motives.”

The party said it is now in consultation to formulate an approach to Thursday’s development.