Lobbyist meets with Govt ministers

Senior government officials told Newsday, “He (Collins) was here and he met with a number of key ministers.

He has since left the country.” The officials declined to indicate who were the government ministers or what were the specific areas of discussion that they had with Collins during his brief visit.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Monday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said he knew Collins, who was one of the signatories on the October 2016 agreement which outlined the American consultancy firm’s engagement as Government’s lobbyist in Washington DC. The prime minister said the decision to hire The Group DC was taken shortly after the People’s National Movement (PNM) assumed office in September 2015.

Rowley added the firm was hired at a cost of $14.7 million over a two-year period.

He dismissed claims from Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal that Collins worked for the PNM in the 2015 general elections.

“In choosing a lobbyist, one of the reasons why we chose Art Collins’ group is because we know them and we are satisfied that they can do the job.”