Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism minister resigned Monday following the revelation that he is under investigation by local police for assaulting his former girlfriend. 

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the country’s prime minister, accepted the resignation of Chandresh Sharma on March 31, according to a statement quoted in local press reports.

Sharma is being investigated by the T&T Police Service in connection with an allegation that he physically abused Sacha Singh, managing director of AMS Biotech Security Concept and AmSure T&T Ltd., in a March 12 altercation. “Statements were recorded and the investigation is in progress,” said Joanne Archie, public information officer of the T&T Police Service.  

“Each member of my administration must be mindful that we are held to different, higher standards than ever before, even by those who are our most bitter critics,” Persad-Bissessar said in the statement announcing Sharma’s resignation. “I take this opportunity to recognize Minister Sharma’s contributions and service to the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

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