Area President sacks Sumptoh from UMP

The Lord Mayor of Port Vila, Ulrich

Sumptoh, has been sacked from membership of the Union of Moderate Parties.

His sacking was conveyed to him by the President of UMP Port Vila Area 2, Cyril Tofo, in a letter dated April 13, 2016 and saying the termination from membership of the UMP was effective from the date of the letter.

In the letter UMP Port Vila Area 2 President Tofo said the decision to terminate Ulrich Sumptoh from membership of the UMP was made following consultation with the President of the Party, Serge Vohor.

He gave two reasons for the decision.

The first was that his (Sumptoh’s) “actions did not reflect the professionalism and productivity required of him by the party” in contravention of Section 141 and 144 of the Constitution of the UMP.

The second was that it was allegedly due to his “influence, which allowed some UMP supporters in Area 2” to vote for another candidate in the snap election.

However, Lord Mayor Ulrich Sumptoh, has responded in a letter to Cyril Tofor asking him not to confuse the supporters of UMP.

He drew the attention of Tofor to the UMP Constitution quoted in his letter for the Lord Mayor’s termination from the party Part VIII Chapter 37 titled Disciplinary Committee.

He added that before Sections 140 and 144 are applied Section 138 on the setting up of a disciplinary committee and Section 139 on filing complaints to the Disciplinary Committee should first be considered.

Sumptoh said that under Section 139 all complaints against party leaders shall go before the Disciplinary Committee and Section 142 spells out the sanction that may be taken by the Disciplinary Committee against members, Areas, and Regions. They are: a) warning duty to make reparation; b) second warning; c) temporary suspension from the post; d) temporary expulsion; and e) permanent expulsion.

“But there is no termination as stated in Cyril Tofo’s letter,” he added.

Cr. Sumptoh said the Disciplinary Committee under its Chairman, Joshua Bong, would be meeting at midday today to consider a complaint from him against Cyril Tofo, whom he claimed was no longer the President of Area 2 because a new chairman has replaced him.

He added that the Disciplinary Committee would also consider a complaint against the President of UMP, Serge Vohor, whom he alleged was “interfering in the affairs of the party”.

“Serge Vohor is in prison and is considered absent from duty, under the UMP Constitution, and under Chapter 31 — The President Section 123, the Vice President shall act on his behalf in his absence,” Sumptoh said.

He added, the Vice President of UMP, Jacque Nauka, was already assuming the responsibilities of the President.