PM: I know US lobbyist

He said the decision to hire The Group DC was taken shortly after the PNM assumed office in September 2015.

“It took from December 2015 to October 2016 to conclude an agreement in such a way that the Central Tenders Board could have made an award to The Group DC.” Rowley added the firm was hired at a cost of $14.7 million over a two-year period.

When Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked if Collins worked for the PNM in the 2015 general election campaign, Rowley replied, “I am aware that a lot of people work for the PNM. I am aware of Arthur Collins and many other persons but I am not aware that he worked for the PNM.” Persad-Bissessar arrived in the Parliament chamber after Rowley gave this response to Moonilal.

When Persad-Bissessar claimed Rowley said he did not know Collins, Rowley countered it was wrong for Persad-Bissessar “to come in late” and make this claim.

“I never said I did not know Arthur Collins. I know Art Collins very well,” Rowley declared.

Collins, the founder of The Group DC, was the senior political strategist for the 2008 (Barack) Obama for America presidential campaign and senior adviser to the 2004 (John) Kerry for President campaign.

The October 28, 2016 agreement document also states Collins has 25 years experience in political strategy, public policy and corporate campaigns. Collins also served as the public liaison for the Obama- Biden Transition Project.

“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.” Rowley said the perception that the firm is aligned to the Democrats, would not be a liability in lobbying the Republican administration of US President Donald Trump, “Given the nature of lobbying and the structure of the American Congress.” In the agreement, The Group DC indicated that with Trump assuming office on January 20, it is, “uniquely positioned within the US institutional and political establishment to navigate the next (Trump) administration and work to improve and strengthen the bilateral relationship (between TT and the US).